Lead - Retail Merchandising Planner

On

$80K — $120K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of experience in Merchandise Planning or similar roles, preferably in fashion or sports
  • Proven track record in managing Open-to-Buy (OTB) and sales forecasts
  • Strong numerical and analytical skills with proficiency in Excel
  • Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including Allocation and Finance
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with a desire for continuous improvement
  • Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

  • Lead forecasting and budget planning aligned with seasonal strategies
  • Shape Regional Retail product strategy and assortments
  • Manage demand forecasting and OTB planning for inventory efficiency
  • Conduct sales analysis to refine forecasts and buying strategies
  • Support end-of-season analyses to inform future strategies
  • Monitor sales against forecasts, recommending proactive actions
  • Drive in-season trading reviews at a granular level
  • Support product launches and assortment shifts based on store needs
  • Collaborate with Allocators to optimize inventory levels
  • Partner with teams for sales recaps and performance insights
  • Deliver ad hoc analyses for campaigns and special projects

Benefits

  • Support for professional growth and development opportunities
  • Dynamic work environment with a focus on collaboration
  • Chance to participate in impactful projects like store openings
  • Exposure to strategic decision-making processes within a global brand
  • Participation in a high-performing team culture
Full Job Description
In Short:

As one of our Retail Merchandising Planners, you will be supporting the product strategy, sales analysis, and forecasts to ensure the right product at the right time and in the right quantities in each store. By analyzing the sales and the demand of each store and category, you will be able to create effective product strategies for different types of stores. You will create assortment selections, support in sales planning and help build the retail Merchandising team, which means that you will be part of the most exciting projects of store openings in AMER.

Your Mission:
  • Lead bottom-up forecasting and budget planning across stores, categories, and warehouses, ensuring alignment with seasonal strategies and financial targets
  • Shape the Regional Retail product strategy and assortments down to the color level, adhering to global guidelines while integrating region and store-specific needs
  • Manage demand forecasting and open-to-buy (OTB) planning to ensure financial alignment and inventory efficiency
  • Conduct detailed sales analysis by style, color, and size to continuously refine forecasts and enhance future buying decisions
  • Support end-of-season hindsight analyses to identify learnings and inform future strategies
  • Monitor sales pacing against forecasts and budgets, recommending proactive in-season actions to drive revenue and mitigate risk
  • Drive regular in-season trading reviews down to color/size level from a strategic and operational pov, identifying actions to meet brand targets
  • Support the planning and execution of product launches and mid-season assortment shifts, adapting to store-specific constraints and opportunities
  • Collaborate closely with Allocators and leverage replenishment tools to maintain optimal inventory levels that reflect both assortment strategy and evolving demand
  • Partner with regional and cross-functional teams to develop sales recaps and performance insights for key business meetings, helping to inform strategic next steps
  • Deliver ad hoc analysis to support VM campaigns, new store openings, product launches, and special projects.

Your Story:
  • You have 6+ years of experience in Merchandise Planning, Retail Planning or a similar role preferably in the fashion, outdoor or sports industry
  • You have a proven track record of managing Open-to-Buy (OTB), sales forecasts, and in-season trading
  • You have a strong numerical and analytical skillsset, with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable strategies, with a good level of Excel Knowledge
  • You have experience working cross-functionally with Allocation, Visual Merchandising, Finance, and Regional teams
  • You have excellent communication and presentation skills
  • You have an entrepreneurial growth mindset, eager to challenge the status quo with an appetite for relentless improvement and comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
  • You are a team player who thrives in a collaborative, high-performance environment

Meet the Team:

The Retail Merchandising team supports On's rapid global expansion by driving strategy across our own retail stores. In this role, you'll partner with Demand Planners to assess cross-channel inventory and support Allocators in making smart product decisions. You'll collaborate with Wholesale and E-commerce Merchandisers to find synergies, and work closely with Store Leaders to understand demand, gather product feedback, and share insights that drive best practices.

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