Junior Manager - Supply Steering & Controlling (all genders) - Lounge by Zalando - Parental Leave Cover (16 months)

THE ROLE & THE TEAM We are seeking an operational, detail-oriented Junior Manager to step into a high-tempo support role. In this fixed-term maternity cover role, you will manage day-to-day ticket approvals, perform analyses on the submissions, and support strategic planning workflows alongside senior team members. ABOUT LOUNGE BY ZALANDO Lounge by Zalando is an online outlet for fashion and lifestyle products in 25 European countries. We offer our members daily, time-limited sale campaigns with discounts of up to 75% off the recommended retail price. However, Lounge by Zalando is so much more than discounts. Our strength lies in our focus on fashion: from sought-after labels to niche brands, from famous international names to trendy luxury brands, we make sure to meet the fashion taste of all our customers, who are always on the hunt for the best products at the best prices. Working with our brand partners, we're pioneering innovative supply-chain and production processes and offer them an impactful and smart solution, creating a new way to shop for fashion - and a new way to sell it. Our motto: Not your average outlet. https://www.zalando-lounge.de WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING) Purchase Approval Ticket Management & Approval Autonomy: Independently manage and validate complex, urgent and edge cases of purchase tickets with tight turnaround times while adhering to risk-mitigation guidelines. Buying Team Collaboration: Drive purchase approvals through clear, continuous stakeholder communication and alignment with the Buying team. Category & Risk Analysis: Conduct pre-approval analyses on high-risk orders / edge cases to ensure full commercial transparency. Provide actionable recommendations on article retention or rejection based on STR, return rates, and discount impacts. Planning & Operational Support: Assist senior team members with operational workflows, incoming buying queries, and ad-hoc team projects as they arise. Team Engagement: Support internal culture and social committee planning initiatives as needed. WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF You have 1-2 years of experience in business planning (demand/supply/merchandising) in retail, or equivalent internship/academic experience. Experience in fashion retail or eCommerce is a big plus. You have an undergraduate degree in finance, engineering, science, business or a related field. Masters or advanced degree in business administration is a plus. You are fluent in English and have excellent communication and storytelling skills. People appreciate your hands-on mentality and your ability to always find simple and efficient solutions to challenges You find it easy to stay on top of things, even in a very dynamic environment with fast-paced changes. Customer centricity is in your blood, and you’re always keen to support stakeholders needs You have excellent proficiency on Excel, Google Sheets or similar software to create complex models and to run your own analysis. Tableau knowledge is a plus OUR OFFER Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days) 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners Family support, including counselling and dedicated services for parents and carers Company pension scheme Employee shares programme Health and wellbeing options, including Wellhub Mental health support and coaching Development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review 2 paid volunteering days a year Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement) INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles! At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds. We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential. We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you. Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion This position is offered as a 16-month fixed-term contract.