Head - Central Planning & Inventory Management - Retail

Job Title : Head of Inventory

Location : Bangalore

Reports to : GM

Role Overview :

- The Head of Central Planning & Inventory is responsible for building and leading the end-to-end merchandise planning and inventory function across rapidly scaling international markets. This role requires a strong entrepreneurial mindset to design and implement scalable frameworks, systems, and processes that enable effective trading decisions, optimize inventory, and support profitable growth.

- Working cross-functionally across Merchandise, Category, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, and Data teams, this role translates commercial strategy into actionable, system-enabled planning solutions within a fast-paced and evolving business environment.

Key Responsibilities :

Strategic Leadership :

- Define and execute the merchandise planning and inventory strategy aligned with overall business objectives.

- Establish scalable planning frameworks, governance structures, and operating rhythms suitable for a high-growth environment.

- Act as a strategic partner to senior leadership on inventory optimization, planning effectiveness, and commercial performance.

Planning & Inventory Management :

Own and oversee end-to-end planning processes including :

- Demand forecasting

- Seasonal and in-season planning

- Allocation and replenishment

- Pricing and markdown strategies

- Drive optimal stock levels to maximize sales, margin, availability, and inventory productivity.

Transformation & Systems :

- Lead planning and inventory transformation initiatives, including system implementation, enhancements, and process improvements.

- Collaborate with Technology and Data teams to deploy scalable planning tools and ERP systems.

- Ensure effective adoption of systems and best practices across teams and markets.

Commercial Partnership :

- Partner closely with Merchandise, Category, and Supply Chain teams to translate commercial strategy into executable plans.

- Support trading decisions through data-driven insights and performance analysis.

- Influence cross-functional stakeholders to align on key business priorities.

Data, Reporting & Insights :

- Ensure accuracy, integrity, and accessibility of planning data.

- Develop robust reporting frameworks and dashboards to support decision-making.

- Leverage analytics to identify risks and opportunities in sales, inventory, and margin performance.

Team Leadership & Capability Building :

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of planning specialists.

- Build and uplift planning capability across the broader organization.

- Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and agile team culture.

Experience & Qualifications :

- 15+ years of experience in retail merchandise planning, inventory management, or related commercial roles.

- Strong expertise in merchandise financial planning, forecasting, and product lifecycle management.

- Proven experience working with planning systems or retail ERP platforms in complex or transformation environments.

- Demonstrated ability to build strategies from first principles and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced settings.

- Experience in global or multi-market retail environments is highly desirable.

Key Skills & Competencies :

- Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking

- Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities

- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills

- Proven leadership and team development experience

- Change management and transformation expertise

- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment