Assistant Merchandise Planner - 6 months - Great graduate opportunity

We're looking for an Assistant Merchandise Planner to join our team for approximately 6 months.  A great development opportunity you'll support our Senior Merchandise Planner on key grocery customer accounts.  You'll be responsible for sales reporting across all areas of the category including Everyday, Seasons & Promotions in which performance will be monitored, reviewed & analysed to provide clear recommendations. A key part of this role is to ensure all demand requirements are aligned to Hallmark & the customer’s sales plan, forecasting stock requirements from store level through to an individual SKU level. In turn, this role will directly contribute to the sales & profit plan.

Working as part of a team to deliver Hallmark’s Annual Operating Plan & our customer’s Joint Business Plans by:

• Reporting on sales performance and highlighting any gaps vs defined targets for internal & external stakeholders
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate data at all times and provide reports in a timely manner by managing their workload in line with the Critical Path
• Support the Senior Merchandise Planner with the management of customer & senior level commercial requests 
• Forecasting demand for up to 2000 SKUs, inclusive of exit stock management to inform wider Hallmark teams such as Supply Chain in requirements for the accounts
• Actively Input into the Category Reviews and Strategy sessions by providing recommendations from analysis on performance of SKU, store format, price & caption to name a few
• Develop strong cross functional relationships and understanding of each department to ensure all activities are delivered in the most effective & profitable way

To be successful you will need:

• Educated to degree level or experience in a similar role in Merchandising or Demand Planning
• Excellent Excel, numerical & analytical capabilities
• Be a confident communicator, with the ability to adjust your approach to the audience, inclusive of strong presentation skills
• Build strong relationships internally & externally, working collaboratively to achieve shared objectives
• Wider commercial thinking beneficial to engage & influence key stakeholders and ensure profit growth is core to all decision making
• To be organised, able to manage time effectively & have a keen eye for detail
• It’s desirable to have an awareness of retail & the market we operate in
   

Based at our Dawson Lane site in Bradford, close to key motorway links you’ll be able to take advantage of:

• Competitive salary
• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Health cashback scheme
• Pension benefit
• Flexible working opportunities including jhybrid working, seeing a mixture of home and office based working
• Free onsite parking for when you are in the office
• A variety of other cultural and lifestyle benefits, aimed at promoting a positive work/life balance

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