Overview
INTRODUCTION
At Burberry, we believe creativity opens spaces. Our purpose is to unlock the power of imagination to push boundaries and open new possibilities for our people, our customers and our communities. This is the core belief that has guided Burberry since it was founded in 1856 and is central to how we operate as a company today.
We aim to provide an environment for creative minds from different backgrounds to thrive, bringing a wide range of skills and experiences to everything we do. As a purposeful, values-driven brand, we are committed to being a force for good in the world as well, creating the next generation of sustainable luxury for customers, driving industry change and championing our communities.
JOB PURPOSE
We are seeking a strategic, commercially driven Director of Global Merchandise Planning – Accessories to lead and inspire planning excellence across a key global division. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will shape the long-term product strategy, influence global assortments, and drive financial performance across regions.
As a senior leader within Global Merchandise Planning, you will champion innovation, collaboration, and simplicity, while delivering strong commercial outcomes and building a high-performing team.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Planning & Product Vision
- Own and deliver the 3-year product and sales plan for Accessories in partnership with Finance and Product Strategy
- Define category ambitions, including margin, pricing, and assortment architecture
- Translate company strategy into clear planning frameworks and actionable insights
Collection Planning & Open to Buy
- Lead Global Open to Buy strategy, setting clear guidance across divisions and regions
- Partner with Merchandising throughout collection development to ensure alignment of creative vision and financial targets
- Review and challenge regional plans to ensure consistency with global strategy
Commercial Performance & Analysis
- Drive sales, margin, and productivity performance through insightful analysis and trading actions
- Identify risks and opportunities, optimizing inventory and maximizing in-season trading
- Deliver impactful insights to inform future collections and business direction
Option & Margin Planning
- Set and manage option strategies aligned to “fewer, bigger ideas”
- Own margin planning, driving ambitious targets while balancing risk
- Embed margin considerations into all planning processes
Market & Supply Chain Collaboration
- Analyse regional buys and ensure alignment with global assortment strategy
- Partner with Supply Chain to support forecasting and vendor planning
- Optimise inventory flow, including replenishment and end-of-life strategies
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing global planning team
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability
- Champion talent development and succession planning across the function
PERSONAL PROFILE
- Proven experience leading divisional planning in a luxury or fast-paced retail environment
- Strong track record in global merchandise planning, Open to Buy, and margin management
- Strategic thinker with excellent analytical and decision-making capability
- Influential communicator, confident engaging with senior stakeholders (SVP/C-suite)
- Collaborative leader with a passion for developing teams and driving performance
- Experience with SAP or similar systems is advantageous
Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
