Title:  Category Planning Manager

About us

At Officeworks we make bigger things happen. Our customers, our team, and our community are our heart and soul. And if our brilliant people have taught us anything, it is that we can do all kinds of incredible things, each and every day.

Fast paced. Innovative. Inspiring. With close to 10,000 team members and a national footprint of more than 173 retail stores Australia wide – we’re focused on delivering a wide range, low price and great service. We’re about inspiring new ideas and thinking outside the box. We’re about kicking goals, having a laugh and pushing each other. We are about being rewarded and supported. We’re about teaching a customer something new and supporting the community. We’re about making a difference.

About the role

As the Category Planning Manager, you will lead the development and implementation of a sustainable merchandise strategy. Your mission is to establish robust trade plans, optimise range and assortment, and maximise Return on Capital (ROC).

You’ll guide a talented team to create merchandise plans at category level and below, leveraging financial forecasting and driving the budgeting process. This role is pivotal in ensuring operational excellence and delivering strong financial outcomes while building planning capability across the business.

Key Focus Areas:

• Strategic leadership and vision
• Achievement of financial KPIs
• Financial and merchandise analysis
• Robust merchandise strategy and planning
• Building planning capability within the team
• Operational excellence and category trading
• Supplier engagement and negotiation
• Stakeholder management
• Product lifecycle leadership
• Inventory management

About you

You are a strategic thinker with a strong commercial mindset and a passion for delivering results. Your ability to lead and inspire teams, combined with deep expertise in merchandise planning and financial analysis, sets you apart. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing strategic priorities with operational execution.

What You’ll Bring:

• Proven experience in merchandise strategy and planning
• Strong financial acumen and forecasting skills
• Exceptional leadership and team development capability
• Ability to build and maintain strong supplier and stakeholder relationships
• Skilled in negotiation and influencing outcomes
• A track record of driving operational excellence and achieving KPIs
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail
• Experience managing product lifecycle and inventory

Experience:

• 5+ years as a Planning Manager for a multi-store retailer
• Expertise in presenting merchandise financial plans to senior management
• Demonstrated success in optimising range and assortment to maximise ROI
• Experience leading financial forecasting and budgeting processes across divisions to achieve KPIs

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence!

Please note due to the forthcoming holiday period, we may be delayed in reviewing your application.

Our culture

If you’re searching for an organisation that’s truly committed to its people, where you can thrive in a culture of togetherness, then join Officeworks and let’s make bigger things happen – for all of us!  We celebrate our teams’ uniqueness by offering genuine team member benefits to the Officeworks family:

• We’re all about giving you the flexibility you need to keep things balanced to suit your individual needs. 
• Enjoy generous discounts across Officeworks, Geeks2U, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and the wider Wesfarmers brands.
• Access to our Officeworks benefits program for exclusive discounts and perks across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health.
• Our Growing Families Policy supports team members during the exciting and challenging times of expanding their family
• We prioritise safety, mental health and wellbeing, offering access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as other ongoing programs
• Our Flexible Public Holidays Policy supports those who observe cultural or religious holidays different from the standard public holidays in Australia
• Take advantage of outstanding learning and development programs to support your career growth
• Explore fantastic career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

At Officeworks, we operate best when our team represents the communities we serve.  We proudly commit to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our team.  We encourage applications from all candidates of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.