Senior Category Planning Manager - maternity cover (all genders)

Role: Senior Merchandise Planner in Authentic Heritage (maternity cover until 31.10.2027). You hold end-to-end accountability for a specific business segment of significant turnover, high complexity, or strategic importance. Your primary responsibility is to define the financial KPI plan and ensure the business unit meets these targets. This involves planning and managing inventory to optimize sales and profitability while holding functional leadership over the Merchandise Planning team. Responsibilities: - Lead the end-to-end planning cycle to define and achieve financial KPI targets. Ensure full accountability for steering the business area to meet defined financial goals. - Implement and monitor inventory strategies to maintain optimal stock levels, maximizing sales and minimizing excess stock through a monthly OTB cycle. - Analyse historical sales data and market trends to create accurate sales forecasts. Prepare detailed reports and insights to support decision-making processes. - Work closely with marketing, operations, and other cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of merchandise plans. Communicate effectively with external stakeholders to align on strategic goals and initiatives. - Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy in merchandise planning. Leverage technology and tools to streamline planning processes and data analysis. Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Business or a comparable field, with over 5 years of experience in Merchandising, preferably within eCommerce, and have managed at least two full planning cycles. - Demonstrated high levels of personal accountability and a commitment to achieving outstanding results. - Excel in dynamic, fast-paced environments, embracing change and consistently seeking innovative solutions to complex challenges. - Excellent English skills, can communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, and have strong negotiation abilities. - Love working with numbers, think strategically, and are an expert in Excel, other planning software, and Google Suite, using these tools to optimize planning processes. What We Offer: - 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days) - 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners - Family support, including counselling and dedicated services for parents and carers - Company pension scheme - Employee shares programme - Health and wellbeing options, including Wellhub - Mental health support and coaching - Development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review - 2 paid volunteering days a year - Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement)