We are partnering on a confidential opportunity to appoint a Head of Planning within a large, high-volume Australian retail business at a critical point in its evolution. This is not a “steady-state” role. This business is ready for change and needs a leader who is comfortable challenging, reshaping and elevating the planning function to unlock its full commercial potential. With responsibility for a 30 person team, this role will lead the end-to-end merchandise planning function across stores and eCommerce, driving performance through improved forecasting, inventory strategy and commercial decision-making. You will operate as a true business leader, partnering closely with executive stakeholders and influencing direction at the highest level. This is a role suited to a proven Head of Planning or early GM-level leader who thrives in complexity, scale and transformation. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Planning & Transformation Define and lead the planning strategy across a large, multi-category retail business Assess, redesign and elevate the planning structure, capability and ways of working Drive transformation across forecasting, inventory management and trading processes Embed best-in-class planning frameworks to support scale, agility and profitability Forecasting, Inventory & Commercial Performance Own the end-to-end forecasting, budgeting and trading cadence across all channels Drive inventory optimisation, balancing availability, stock turn, margin and cashflow Lead pricing, promotional and markdown strategies to maximise commercial outcomes Deliver clear insights and scenario modelling to inform executive decision-making Trading & Performance Leadership Lead weekly and in-season trading, identifying risks, opportunities and growth levers Partner cross-functionally to ensure alignment between demand, supply and execution Drive performance culture through strong commercial accountability and visibility Leadership & Capability Build Lead, coach and inspire a large planning team (30), building capability at all levels Uplift team structure, talent and performance to align with future business needs Foster a culture of ownership, pace, accountability and continuous improvement Cross-Functional Influence Partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Finance, Digital and Retail leadership teams Align planning outputs with broader business strategy and operational execution Act as a key voice in shaping commercial direction and business priorities About You: You are a commercially driven, strategic planning leader who is energised by scale, complexity and change. You bring: Extensive experience in merchandise planning within large-scale retail or consumer businesses Proven leadership of sizeable teams, with the ability to elevate capability and performance Strength across forecasting, OTB, WSSI/MSSI, inventory optimisation and in-season trading Experience operating at Head of Planning or emerging GM level, influencing senior stakeholders A track record of driving transformation, not just maintaining existing structures Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable strategy The confidence to challenge, reshape and lead change in a complex environment Why This Role: A rare opportunity to lead planning at true scale within a major retail business Significant scope to reshape and transform an established function High visibility role with direct impact on business performance Lead a large, experienced team and build a best-in-class planning capability WFH upto 3 days Bonus Scheme Competitive Discount Interested in learning more? Please contact Faith Hawkins at JIVARO faithhawkins@jivaro.com.au
