Ref#: W165420
Department: Merchandising & Planning
City: Sydney
State/Province: New South Wales
Location: Australia
Company Description
Position Overview
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Experience, Skills, and Knowledge
Department: Merchandising & Planning
City: Sydney
State/Province: New South Wales
Location: Australia
Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For almost 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets.
At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
Position Overview
Ralph Lauren is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Buying & Merchandise Planning, ANZ. In this senior leadership role, you will partner with the Australian Leadership Team to shape and execute our brand elevating merchandise strategy. As the in-country product lead, you’ll collaborate with our Asia Pacific Merchandising team to align global and regional vision with local execution, delivering the timeless style and elevated experience Ralph Lauren is known for.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Future-Focused Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of merchandising professionals, fostering a collaborative culture that champions consumer insights and customer needs
Market Expert
- Lead local insights on consumer trends, pricing, and competitors
- Shape seasonal product briefs that balance market needs with brand vision
- Partner with APAC Buying & Planning to curate compelling assortments
- Support retail expansion with merchandise plans for new stores and activations
Brand & Strategy Champion
- Built and communicate seasonal strategy cross-functionally with Retail, Marketing, Visual Merchandising and Store Design.
- Deliver impactful product training and storytelling
- Adapt global brand initiatives to drive local relevance and growth
Sales Driver
- Analyze sales trends and inventory to develop action plans
- Recommend visual, promotional, and product adjustments to boost performance
- Identify replenishment and incentive opportunities
Experience, Skills, and Knowledge
- Proven leadership and management in merchandise planning within the fashion/apparel retail field
- Exceptional Excel and data analysis skills, with the ability to interpret complex merchandising metrics and financial data to inform decisions
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, analyze market trends, and develop innovative product strategies
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and shifting priorities effectively
- Proactive & solutions focused approach to identifying opportunities and addressing challenges
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of influencing, presenting, and collaborating across all levels of the organization