Category Planning Assistant

About the Role and Team

Zalando stands as Europe’s premier online fashion platform, uniting customers, brands, and partners in 24 markets. We develop digital innovations in fashion, logistics, advertising, and research, connecting over 49 million active customers with a comprehensive fashion assortment. Our team leverages diverse expertise and languages to achieve this goal.

As a Category Planning Assistant, you will play a key role in offering in-depth analytical insights that empower both your team and partners to make informed decisions enhancing the customer assortment and advancing your unit’s success. You will hold responsibility for actions impacting the financial outcomes of your unit by managing inventory levels and pricing strategies, while keeping abreast of external market trends and their potential effects. You will utilize stock management and pricing systems, alongside Excel and Google Suite, confidently to fulfill your duties.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver analytical assistance to support data-driven decision-making, generating detailed reports for weekly trade meetings and responding to ad hoc planning requests.
• Take ownership of achieving seasonal financial goals by overseeing pricing strategies, steering assortment in alignment with product lifecycle and supply conditions to optimize sales and profitability.
• Manage stock intake and replenishment, provide forward-looking insights on deliveries, and proactively report potential risks to your team.
• Effectively communicate essential messages to your immediate team and key stakeholders including Buying, Operations, and brand partners to facilitate decision making, managing peer communications autonomously.
• Anticipate commercial and operational challenges before they arise, taking suitable steps to address them and implementing process improvements within your unit and proposing enhancements organization-wide.

Who We Are Looking For

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree and a minimum of one year of experience in merchandise planning or a commercially driven analytical role, preferably in retail or online retail sectors, with a firm grasp of KPIs and their business impact.
• Individuals who are motivated, organized, capable of prioritizing tasks effectively, and maintain a positive outlook in a dynamic, fast-moving setting, embracing change and persistently seeking solutions. A strong sense of accountability and commitment to surpassing goals is essential.
• Excellent English communication abilities, with proficiency in engaging diverse internal and external stakeholders, supported by robust negotiation expertise.
• Passion for working with data and figures combined with strategic thinking. Expert-level proficiency in Excel and experience with Google Suite are required.

What We Offer

• Starting with 27 days of annual holiday for full-time employees, increasing by 1 day per calendar year up to 30 days.
• Discounts of 40% on Zalando fashion and beauty products, 30% off Lounge by Zalando items, along with promotions from partner companies.
• Comprehensive family support services, including counseling and dedicated assistance for parents and caregivers.
• Participation in a company pension scheme and employee share programs.
• Health and wellbeing amenities including access to Wellhub, mental health support, and coaching.
• Two paid volunteering days per year and relocation assistance available upon prior agreement.

Additional Information

Zalando is committed to inclusivity in hiring and employment practices, welcoming applicants without consideration of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or disability. Candidates can choose to omit photos, age, or marital status from applications. Accommodations for hiring process needs are encouraged to ensure a positive candidate experience.