The Manager, Merch Analytics Hindsight owns the enterprise post-season and post-launch analytical discipline for the Merchandise organization. This role establishes the rigor by which the business looks backward - measuring what actually happened against what was planned - so that forward-looking plans are grounded in evidence rather than intuition.
The Manager builds and maintains the hindsight framework spanning assortment performance, promotional effectiveness, sales and margin forecast accuracy, and new product introduction outcomes. Findings are translated into specific, actionable recommendations that feed directly into assortment planning, pricing strategy, and demand planning cycles.
This role is designed for an analytically rigorous professional who is equally comfortable interrogating SKU-level data and presenting a clear performance narrative to Merchant and Planning leadership.
Key ResponsibilitiesHindsight Framework & Reporting- Own the hindsight calendar and cadence: establish and manage the recurring post-season, post-promotion, and post-launch review process across all merchandise categories
- Build standardized hindsight templates: develop consistent analytical templates covering sell-through, margin realization, forecast accuracy, markdown effectiveness, and inventory productivity
- Maintain data lineage and definitions: ensure consistent metric definitions and reliable data sourcing so that hindsight outputs are trusted and comparable period over period
- Deliver the hindsight package: prepare and present findings to Merchants, Planning, and senior leadership with clear, prioritized recommendations
Performance Analysis- Assortment hindsight: quantify SKU and category-level productivity, identifying winners, underperformers, and structural patterns that should inform the next assortment cycle
- Promotional and pricing hindsight: measure the incrementality and margin impact of promotional events and pricing actions; distinguish true lift from pull-forward and cannibalization
- New product introduction hindsight: evaluate NPI performance against pre-launch forecast and go/no-go criteria; feed learnings back into the forecasting framework
- Demand forecast accuracy measurement: own the measurement of demand forecast accuracy and bias by category, item, and horizon; partner with Demand Planning on root-cause and remediation
- Margin forecast accuracy measurement: own the measurement of margin forecast accuracy and bias by category, item, and horizon; partner on root-cause and remediation
Insight to Action- Close the loop: ensure hindsight findings are documented, owned, and translated into changes in assortment, pricing, or planning assumptions - not simply reported
- Partner with Merchants: serve as an analytical thought partner to the merchant teams, framing findings constructively and focusing on the decisions they should change
- Continuously improve the framework: refine the hindsight methodology over time as data availability, tooling, and business questions evolve
Success MetricsIn the first 12 months, the Hindsight role will be evaluated on:
- Adoption: Hindsight reviews established as a standing input to the assortment and pricing planning cycles across all major categories
- Actionability: A documented decision log demonstrating specific plan changes driven by hindsight findings
- Forecast Accuracy: Established baseline measurement of forecast accuracy and bias, with a demonstrated improvement trend
Required Competencies:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Statistics, Economics, or a related analytical field
- 6+ years of experience in financial analysis, merchandise finance, retail analytics, FP&A, banking, or a comparable analytical role
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex analysis into concise, actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly to cross-functional leadership
- Strong attention to detail with the discipline to maintain consistent definitions and reproducible analysis
- High standards for accuracy and analytical integrity, with the ability to move quickly without sacrificing either
- Demonstrated ability to work calmly in a fast-paced team environment while managing multiple concurrent workstreams
Preferred Competencies:- Prior experience designing or significantly improving post-season or hindsight processes
- Proficiency in SQL or a comparable data query language
- Experience with enterprise planning tools such as Oracle, Hyperion, or similar
- Experience with enterprise resource planning software such as SAP
- Experience in furniture, home, or big-ticket retail
Expected Base Pay Not Including Potential Commissions, Incentive, Bonus, etc. Opportunities:$105,000 - $130,000
