Lead Business Planner - Retail & Apparel - 6+ months - Contract

We are currently looking for a Lead Business Planner in Retail and Apparel to drive strategic planning, forecasting, and performance optimization across digital channels at a global retail & apparel client. This is a high-impact role where you'll lead a team of senior planners and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver consumer-centric, data-driven business plans.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Forecasting: Drive seasonal demand forecasts and optimize in-season performance across digital channels, aligning with Nike's multi-year strategy.
• Business Planning & Budgeting: Define and manage the digital business plan in line with marketplace capacity and digital strategy; influence budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with central business planning and marketplace teams to shape consumer demand plans and support key seasonal brand/product stories.
• Performance Monitoring: Track business performance against targets, focusing on sales, product margin, turnover, and inventory health across planning granularities.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Clearly communicate results, variances, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Off-Price & Inventory Management: Collaborate with the broader planning organization to manage CloseOut supply, meet inventory targets, and align with financial goals.
• Retail & Digital Expertise: Apply deep knowledge of retail metrics (eg, sell-through, WOS) and digital traffic (organic, paid) to shape demand planning and stock/sales strategies.
• Leadership & Adaptability: Lead monthly financial reviews, adapt to organizational changes, and operate effectively within a matrixed, cross-functional environment

What you bring

• 8-10 years in financial/business planning with a strong analytical foundation in retail and apparel environments.
• Advanced data interpretation and visualization skills (Tableau).
• Proficiency in planning platforms (eg, O9) and Excel (macros a plus).
• Strong risk/opportunity assessment grounded in data.
• Experience leading end-to-end projects.
• Digital experience is essential; retail experience is a bonus.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, tailored to senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable navigating change and uncertainty.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach.

Project
. Start: ASAP
. Duration: 6months +
. 40 hours per week,
. 3 days a week in the office in Hilversum

Interested? Please apply via the link below with your updated CV, or reach out directly with your updated CV

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