Senior Manager Assortment Planning - 6+ months - Hilversum

Shape the future of assortment strategy across a leading global brand in the sporting goods and apparel industry.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Manager Assortment Planning to lead assortment planning activities across a key sport division within the EMEA region. This is a strategic leadership opportunity for someone passionate about consumer demand, commercial planning, product profitability, and team development.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead a team of Assortment Planners, driving performance, capability development, coaching, and succession planning.
• Own and evolve assortment plans across sport and marketplace channels, ensuring alignment with business, consumer, and profitability objectives.
• Develop demand plans and forecasts using advanced analytics, statistical modelling, market insights, and consumer demand signals.
• Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans and inventory strategies to optimize sales, margin, inventory health, and product productivity.
• Drive assortment planning across product families, franchises, and seasonal collections while supporting key commercial milestones.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Sales, Marketplace, Direct-to-Consumer, and Integrated Business Planning teams to deliver best-in-class planning outcomes.
• Lead planning process improvements, new planning capabilities, and ways of working to enhance business effectiveness.
• Support in-season forecasting, responsive planning, and inventory optimization initiatives across multiple product categories.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience in Assortment Planning, Merchandise Planning, Demand Planning, or Commercial Planning within a consumer-focused environment.
• Strong leadership experience managing and developing high-performing planning teams.
• Advanced analytical skills with expertise in forecasting, inventory management, product lifecycle planning, and data-driven decision making.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with merchandising, sales, supply chain, and commercial stakeholders.
• Experience driving profitability, inventory productivity, and assortment optimization across complex product portfolios.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills within a matrix organisation.