SPEED SPIRIT is what we look for in our candidates defined by some simple values that inspire us to BE DRIVEN in our performance BE VIBRANT in our sporting legacy BE TOGETHER in our team spirit and BE YOU to let our individual talent and experience shine Applying for a job at PUMA is easy Simply click APPLY ONLINE and follow the steps to upload your application YOUR TALENT Qualifications and Functional Competencies Professional experience QualificationMasters from top tier institutes preferred IIMs NITIE SPJIMR XLRI FMS MDI etc Minimum 4-5 years of experience in the retail space preferably in merchandising planning Attributes we look forLeadership Strategic mindset Transformational capability Stakeholder connect Strong execution Analytical prowess Decision making and ownership Negotiation and influencing capabilities Operational rigor Good communication interpersonal skills Self motivated and driven Inquisitive and experimentalize Questioning status quo YOUR MISSION Position Summary We are seeking a strategic and results-driven skilled to lead the merchandising and planning function for PUMA India s expansive network of nearly 200 factory outlets generating over 600 Cr in annual revenue In this role you will be responsible for end-to-end business planning and merchandising including setting net sales and margin targets managing inventory providing buy budgets and designing a robust markdown and promotion strategy to drive both revenue and profitability Your key objective will be to ensure the right product is available at the right store at the right time using a deep understanding of customer behavior product performance store dynamics This role requires a strong analytical mindset and a passion for retail excellence You will Develop and execute comprehensive sales margin inventory plans for the FOC business Own the markdown strategy curating offers that maximize sell-through with healthy margins Drive topline and bottom-line growth through effective inventory management pricing strategy Leverage data-driven decision-making continuous process improvements and automation Collaborate closely with sales buying operations finance to deliver on business objectives Stay deeply connected with the product line and customer trends to devise allocation strategies Lead mentor and grow a high-performing team of 7 professionals This is a high-impact role that combines strategic thinking with operational execution in one of Puma Indias most dynamic and rapidly growing channels Key Objectives Demand Forecasting Develop monthly sales targets at the store level along with detailed daily phasing for the channel Identify the inventory required to meet these targets and implement effective strategies to ensure achievement Sales Achievement Monitor progress against sales targets and proactively adjust merchandising or promotional strategies as needed Collaborate closely with the retail sales team to identify operational gaps and take corrective actions o Store Merchandising Inventory Management Manage the allocation of Old Season Merchandise OSM from other channels based on store-specific requirements and product gaps relative to sales goals Drive inventory productivity by implementing aggressive promotions for non-moving and slow-moving stock Take full ownership of the Bought-For-Outlet strategy by ensuring timely placement in relevant stores and facilitate regular replenishment or replacement to minimize lost sales opportunities Markdown Management Design innovative data-backed promotional offers that balance revenue profitability and inventory turnover objectives Partner with the sales team to execute in-store promotions customize offers by location and align visual communication including windows and in-store messaging with ongoing campaigns Purchase Budget Planning Define the Open-to-Buy OTB requirements necessary to support the planned sales trajectory Provide strategic direction to the buying team on product selection key price points and high-potential styles guided by current performance trends and assortment gaps within the channel Operational Efficiency Continuously monitor store performance and diagnose underlying issues impacting sales Collaborate with the sales visual merchandising and store development teams to improve retail execution and overall operational efficiency Team Leadership Development Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to team members empowering them to implement best practices both within the channel and across the organization in their respective regions Foster continuous learning by supporting their upskilling and professional growth ensuring they are equipped to deliver high-impact results KPIs and qualitative measures Net sale achievement Margin MGP achievement Markdown reduction EBIT achievement Inventory stock turn Inventory health of OSM Sell through rate STR Store Size integrity NOOS Never Out of Stock availability Organizational Relationships Internal stakeholder Retail sale Business finance Visual merchandising Business development Projects Buying Other channel merchandising team and Business Intelligence External stakeholders Franchise partners and Tech provider for replan tool PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants regardless of race color religion national origin sex gender identity or expression sexual orientation age or disability Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination PUMA supports over 21 000 employees across 51 countries The PUMA Group owns the brand PUMA Cobra Golf and stichd and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach Germany