Job Description:

Lead Manager – Retail Merchandising (Non-Apparel)

Organization: BrainBees Solutions Ltd. (FirstCry)

Reporting To: Merchandising Head

Role Summary

Own end-to-end merchandise planning, category health, and inventory management for Non-Apparel categories across COCO stores. Drive product intake, replenishment, and liquidation while working closely with Buying and Store teams to maximize sales and inventory productivity. The role will also lead and manage a team of Merchandisers and ARS to ensure efficient execution of planning and replenishment processes.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning & Inventory Ownership

· Develop sales, intake, and inventory plans aligned with category and business targets.

· Own complete inventory lifecycle including intake planning, allocation, replenishment, and liquidation.

· Monitor sell-through, stock turns, weeks of cover, and stock productivity to maintain optimal inventory levels.

Buying Team Partnership – Intake, Product & Pricing

· Liaise closely with Buying team on product intake planning, quantities, and launch readiness.

· Provide inputs on product performance, price points (MRP), assortment gaps, and depth planning.

· Influence assortment and product development decisions using sales insights and store feedback.

Replenishment & Category Health Management

· Drive timely replenishment to ensure strong product availability across stores.

· Monitor category performance and take corrective actions to improve stock movement.

· Ensure store-wise assortment alignment based on store size, cluster, and demand patterns.

Liquidation & Aging Inventory Control

· Monitor slow-moving and aging inventory and drive timely liquidation actions.

· Execute markdowns, stock rebalancing, and other actions to maintain healthy inventory.

Store & Sales Team Engagement

· Partner with Store Managers and Retail teams to gather customer and product feedback.

· Identify fast and slow-moving products and take corrective actions.

· Translate store insights into planning and intake decisions to improve sell-through.

Team Management

· Lead and manage a team of Merchandisers and ARS.

· Drive execution of replenishment, allocation, and inventory tracking processes.

· Provide guidance, set targets, and ensure team productivity and accountability.

· Build team capability and ensure strong planning discipline and execution.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

· Track category and inventory performance against plans.

· Provide regular insights and recommendations to Merchandising Head.

Key KPIs

· Sales vs Plan

· Stock Turns

· Weeks of Cover

· Stock Availability

· Aging Inventory %

· Sell-through

· Replenishment efficiency

Experience & Skills

· 5–8 years of experience in Retail Merchandise Planning, Inventory Planning, or Category Planning

· Experience managing inventory in multi-store retail environments

· Prior experience managing or mentoring team members preferred

· Strong analytical, planning, and stakeholder management skills

· Strong collaboration skills with Buying and Retail teams

Sr. Manager Retail Merchandiser