Head of Merchandising Planning, EMEA

In short  

As the Head of Merchandising Planning EMEA, you will be the strategic visionary leading our merchandising planning function across the region. You will architect the planning strategy that powers our commercial success, ensuring our product vision translates seamlessly into data-driven, highly accurate, and scalable financial and inventory plans.
By building cutting-edge frameworks and leveraging advanced technologies, you will empower your team—including the Merchandising Planning Leads—to drive operational excellence. You are a key leadership partner, integrating planning insights into the broader Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy bridging the gap between global product intent and regional market reality, and aligning our multi-channel execution across Wholesale, Digital, and Retail.

Your mission

• Cross- Channel Stakeholder Leadership: Lead and manage cross-functional stakeholder relationships, acting as the key strategic partner to channel leaders and Sales Planning leaders across Wholesale, DtC-Ecom, and DtC-Retail to ensure unified commercial execution and end-2-end planning.
• Strategic Frameworks: Set the overarching framework and define the ways of working for product level planning in Long Range Plan (LRP), pre-season planning, and in-season management & IBP cycle, ensuring robust real-time forecasts at the vertical, collection, and product franchise levels.
• Forecasting Optimization: Increase forecast accuracy metrics and minimize missed sales opportunities. You will achieve this by smartly and swiftly translating sell-through trends and market insights into dynamic adjustments of plans and open-to-buy forecasts.
• AI-Enabled Smart Planning: Champion the adoption and integration of AI and advanced data analytics into our planning processes to enable smart planning, optimize inventory flow, and enhance predictive decision-making capabilities across the region.
• Team Leadership & Upskilling: Directly manage, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of Merchandising Planning Leads, fostering a culture of data-driven accountability and operational excellence.

Your story

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in merchandise planning, forecasting, or commercial strategy, preferably within the footwear, sportswear, or fashion industries.
• Strong technical acumen, with a deep understanding of data architecture and hands-on experience leveraging AI planning tools and advanced forecasting models to drive business results.
• Proven track record of setting complex merchandising financial targets, managing multi-channel forecasting processes, and balancing financial, consumer, and operational considerations at a regional scale.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive presence, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership globally and regionally.
• An entrepreneurial mindset - you are comfortable navigating structured and unstructured planning challenges, leading teams through ambiguity, and acting autonomously to drive the business forward.
• A positive attitude with outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills. Fluent in English (written and verbal), with additional languages considered a plus.

Meet the team  

You will lead the EMEA Merchandising Planning team and work alongside key leadership functions across B2B sales, eCom and Retail, and demand planning with a clear focus on product lifecycle and profitability. In particular, you will partner with the Planning leaders across regional and global teams - Demand Planning, Sales Planning, DtC Buying & Planning, and Controlling teams. As your work is highly strategic and cross-functional, you will also partner closely with our Global Product, Merchandising, and Operations teams. Your team will consist of planning leads and specialists focussed on both footwear and apparel. 

What we offer  

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.