Position Overview:

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for analyzing business risks & opportunities utilizing retail science and technology to achieve sales and margin goals while maintaining proper inventory levels. Creating a business partnership with the Buying team to execute a variety of assortment mixes and merchandise strategies to improve cash flow and increase profit margins. Participate in the execution of strategies to mitigate plan shortfalls and / or maximize overages to accomplish sales, margin and inventory turn objectives.

Primary Responsibilities:

Formulate and manage Dept/Sub-Dept level merchandise forecasts, in partnership with the Merchant, through development of forecasts and analysis to assist with higher level strategies.

• Provide purchase analysis recommendations, observations and conclusions to assigned buying team to assist in purchase decisions and forecast impacts.
• Assist in the development of Assortment Plans to achieve plan goals and ensure a proper inventory balance of the overall assortment and store inventory.
• Create inbound/outbound forecasts to assist the supply chain and allocation teams in executing the flow of products to the stores.
• Review open-to-buy with merchants to analyze receipt timing and recommendations based on forecast trend and plan.
• Assist the merchant team with promotional forecasts and recommendations while working with marketing and allocation to ensure execution of promotional strategies.
• Actively identify opportunities to exploit sales and margin opportunities. Work with Buyer, Allocation, Marketing and Supply Chain to ensure execution.
• Assist in the regular review and identification of aged / distressed inventory to recommend promotional or markdown strategies to liquidate inventories most profitably.
• Develop and present analysis that assesses strategies with observations, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Develop and maintain a positive relationship with planning, merchandise, and allocation team members through a collaborative team atmosphere and active communication.
• Assist the team in achieving Sales Dollar, Margin Dollar and Inventory Turn targets for assigned product areas.
• Achieve forecast accuracy targets for sales, promotional, and inventory forecasts.
• Others as established by the Management Team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 3+ years of prior merchandise planning and/or allocations experience required.
• Strong retail math and analytical skills, as evidenced by:
  
  • Ability to develop logical recommendations with limited data in a closeout environment
  • Ability to develop comprehensive forecasts and planning strategies
• Strong Business development skills and judgment, as evidenced by:
  
  • Ability to conceptualize future opportunities and initiatives
  • Translate ideas into actionable tasks
  • Ability to identify, quantify, and communicate opportunity and risks.
• Strong Organizational Skills, as evidenced by:
  
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities
  • Ability to work independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• System skills include Excel, Word, Outlook, and the ability to quickly learn new data analysis tools. (ThoughtSpot, JDA, and A/S400 a plus)

Physical Requirements:

• Physical ability to sit for extended periods and work at a computer.
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner

This pay represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. Pay ranges may be different in other locations. Actual associate pay will be based on work location, position, experience, skill level, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Associate will not be compensated below the minimum wage for the specific location where the individual has applied in accordance with city, county, and state requirements.

New Hire Starting Pay: $70,000 - $120,000