Michael Kors Merchandise Planning Manager
- Employment
- Contract
- Seniority
- Manager
- Compensation
- £72,000–80,000/year
- Department
- Merchandising, Buying & Planning
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Aug 24, 2026
About Michael Kors
Michael Kors is an internationally recognized luxury fashion brand and lifestyle label, marketed globally across apparel, accessories and fragrances. As part of Capri Holdings, Michael Kors operates within a portfolio of premium fashion houses and emphasizes design-led product, elevated retail experiences and a fast-paced, customer-centric retail network.
Product Planning Manager (12-month FTC) at Michael Kors, London. Lead EMEA omni-channel planning, inventory optimization, and team development. £72,000–£80,000.
Role & Responsibilities
- Own category-level sales, margin, inventory and receipt plans across the EMEA omni-channel business
- Develop annual, seasonal and monthly financial plans that support long-term growth objectives and customer demand
- Lead the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process, identifying risks and opportunities and making recommendations to senior leadership
- Drive forecasting accuracy through robust analysis of historical performance, trends and market opportunities
- Develop and execute category strategies that maximise sales, profitability, inventory productivity and customer satisfaction
- Lead weekly, monthly and seasonal trade reviews, providing clear insights and actions to improve business performance
- Partner with buying teams to develop customer-focused assortment strategies that balance commercial objectives with customer demand
- Influence product investment decisions through detailed analysis of sales performance, market trends, profitability and inventory productivity
- Provide recommendations on buy quantities, depth, breadth and lifecycle management across multiple product categories
- Develop and execute seasonal strategies to support key launches, new product opportunities and category growth initiatives
- Partner with allocation leadership to define strategies that optimise inventory across stores, digital fulfilment locations and regional markets
- Evaluate allocation and replenishment performance through hindsight analysis, identifying opportunities to improve future inventory investments
- Work closely with branch and retail leadership teams to understand local trading opportunities, customer demand and inventory requirements
- Drive inventory optimisation initiatives, balancing service levels, stock availability, markdown exposure and working capital efficiency
- Lead strategies to improve stock turn, reduce aged inventory and maximise full-price sell-through
- Monitor business performance across retail, e-commerce and wholesale channels, identifying emerging risks and opportunities
- Analyse sales, inventory, markdown, profitability and productivity metrics to drive actionable commercial decisions
- Partner with retail, digital and branch teams to understand customer behaviour and translate insights into planning actions
- Lead promotional, markdown and exit strategies to support achievement of sales, margin and inventory objectives
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team of planners, assistant planners and allocators
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement
- Provide strategic direction and support career development across the planning function
- Champion planning best practices and contribute to ongoing transformation and process improvement initiatives
Qualifications
- Significant experience in product planning, merchandise planning or commercial planning within a multi-category retail environment
- Proven experience leading and developing high-performing planning teams
- Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in planning systems and analytical tools
- Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret and manage key retail performance metrics
- Experience within fashion, luxury, premium retail or consumer-led businesses preferred
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred
Skills
Experience
Significant experience in product planning, merchandise planning, or commercial planning within a multi-category retail environment, with proven track record of leading and developing high-performing planning teams in fashion, luxury, or premium retail sectors.
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in London, England, UK.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from GBP 72,000 to GBP 80,000 per annum.
Benefits
Career growth opportunities with clear progression paths and leadership development; flexible work options and generous time-off policies; employee discount on premium products and luxury brands; volunteer days and sustainability programs; mentorship and professional development programs
Culture
Michael Kors fosters a design-driven, service-oriented retail culture that blends creative energy with commercial discipline. Teams work in a fast-paced, international environment where collaboration, attention to detail and polished client service are highly valued.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Michael Kors, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Product Planning Manager», «Commercial Planning Manager», «Category Planning Manager», «Inventory Planning Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.