The Director Planning & Allocation Europe is responsible for driving profitable growth, inventory optimization, and brand presentation across all European outlet stores. The role leads Planning and Allocation teams to deliver a balanced, customer-focused assortment, aligned with brand strategy, while maximizing sales, margin, and profit.
This position is a key commercial partner to Senior Management, Operations, Buying, and Logistics, shaping and executing the outlet financial and inventory strategy end-to-end.

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial & Financial Leadership:

• Accountable for delivering sales, margin, profit, and inventory targets across all outlet divisions

• Own buy spend, OTB management, inventory control, option count, and markdown budget across divisions

• Define and deliver commercial strategy, strategy updates, and key decision proposals for Senior Management approval

• Reconcile assortment plans with financial plans and secure final sign-off with MD Europe

• Assess and approve clearance volumes, option strategy, and pricing for outlet distribution

Planning & Range Strategy:

• Lead the Planning team to build profitable, space-efficient, customer-relevant assortments that showcase the brand

• Define top-line sales, margin, inventory, ASP, density, and option targets, aligned top-down and bottom-up

• Develop and sign off seasonal, quarterly, and divisional financial plans with MD Retail Europe, cascade targets to teams

• Ensure pre-season and in-season plans are balanced with store capacity and budget expectations

• Create and maintain WSSI plans, intake forecasts, forward stock positions, and monthly unit buy plans

• Re-forecast continuously to manage risk, opportunities, and inventory exposure, with clear action plans

Allocation & Replenishment:

• Lead and direct the Planners and Allocators to deliver the right product to the right store at the right time

• Own the allocation & replenishment strategy, including cancellations and exit recommendations

• Ensure accurate RDC inbound capacity forecasts and outbound store allocation planning

Performance Management & Governance:

• Lead weekly pre-season and in-season performance reviews with Buyers, Planners, and Allocators

• Own KPI transparency, data visibility, and analytical insight to enable fast, informed decision-making

• Deliver regular re-forecasts, performance updates, and recovery plans to Senior Management

• Manage markdown planning, timing, discount depth, cost impact, and price execution with key stakeholders

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Build strong partnerships with Retail Operations, Buying, Logistics, Finance, and IT

• Act as a senior commercial voice in cross-functional forums and strategic projects

• Lead and participate in regional and global projects as assigned

Team Leadership & Culture:

• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing Buying, Planning and Allocation teams

• Set clear expectations, provide structured feedback, conduct performance reviews, and manage succession

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-engagement team culture, promoting collaboration and accountability

• Ensure compliance with occupational health, safety, and legal requirements within the area of responsibility

Success Measures:

• Sales, margin, profit, and inventory turn vs. budget

• OTB accuracy and WSSI forecast quality

• Markdown efficiency and clearance effectiveness

• Store stock balance, availability, and space productivity

• Team capability, engagement, and retention.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in retail merchandising, buying, planning, or allocation, preferably within a multi‑country retail environment.

• Proven track record in leading end‑to‑end buying and assortment planning for large-scale retail organizations.

• Experience managing open-to-buy (OTB), merchandise financial planning, markdown management, and inventory optimization.

• Prior leadership of cross-functional teams across Buying, Planning, Allocation, and Merchandising.

• Strong understanding of the European retail landscape, consumer behavior, and seasonal market dynamics.

• Experience with omnichannel retailing, including digital‑to‑store integrations.

• Background in data-driven decision-making, forecasting, and use of advanced analytics tools.

• Ability to develop and execute strategies aligned with business and financial goals.

• Strong leadership skills with experience in managing, coaching, and developing

• Excellence in cross-functional collaboration with functions of other departments.