Away

Merchandise Planning Manager

Away$108K — $120K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or inventory management in multi-channel retail
  • Expertise in Open-To-Buy (OTB) plans, financial pacing, and gross margin optimization
  • Experience with enterprise planning system implementations and User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
  • Strong quantitative skills and proficiency in data analysis software
  • Ability to effectively partner with B2B, Sales, Product, and Finance teams
  • Creative and innovative mindset with a passion for building unique projects
  • Agility in a fast-paced and evolving work environment.

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end planning process for specific channels and categories
  • Build and maintain Open-To-Buy (OTB) plans aligning with financial targets
  • Collaborate with B2B, Product, and Finance to optimize shared product pools
  • Analyze trends and delivery cadences to provide actionable insights
  • Serve as a functional tester during user-acceptance testing for planning tools
  • Translate demand forecasts into automated product-level buys following system launch
  • Maintain demand-tracking models to ensure operational readiness before tool rollout
  • Evaluate and adopt AI tools to streamline inventory analysis and reporting.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance offerings
  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Generous paid time off programs including vacation and holidays
  • Discounts and stipends for company products
  • Opportunities for company-sponsored volunteer and charitable work.
Full Job Description
We are hiring a Merchandise Planning Manager to join our Department Name team. This position reports to the Director, Merchandise Planning and takes Away further by architecting our multi-year omnichannel product roadmap and global pricing strategy, allowing us to further grow our ownership in the travel marketplace.

As a key strategic leader, you will own portfolio profitability across DTC and Wholesale channels, drive commercial performance, and develop a high-impact team to scale Away's global footprint.

What You'll Do As The Merchandising Planning Manager
  • You'll own the end-to-end planning process for assigned channels and categories, managing inventory pacing, monitoring channel trends, and reacting in-season to drive sales performance
  • You'll build and maintain open-to-buy (OTB) plans by account, door, market, and/or SKU level aligned to financial pacing and margin targets, collaborating with commercial partners to inform pre-season assortment and volume recommendations
  • You'll partner with B2B, Product, and Finance to balance shared product pools across competing channels, evaluating trade-offs to optimize total business performance without overexposing inventory.
  • You'll analyze historical trends, sell-through, and delivery cadences to surface actionable insights for product mix, pricing, and lifecycle strategies
  • You'll serve as a core functional tester during user-acceptance testing (UAT) and system implementation for our planning and allocation tool, validating demand inputs and planning logic to ensure departmental readiness ahead of the 2027 rollout
  • You'll translate topline demand forecasts into automated product-level buys following the 2027 launch of our planning and allocation tool, utilizing system analytics to optimize replenishment and lifecycle execution
  • You'll maintain baseline demand-tracking models and current operational tools before the 2027 launch, generating quality benchmark data to support model calibration and ongoing operational pacing
  • You'll proactively evaluate and adopt emerging AI tools and digital planning technologies to streamline inventory analysis, automate routine reporting, and enhance category execution


Who You Are
  • You have at least 5 years of experience in merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or inventory management within multi-channel retail environments
  • You have demonstrated expertise in building and managing Open-To-Buy (OTB) plans, financial pacing, gross margin optimization, and product lifecycle management
  • You have hands-on experience participating in enterprise planning system implementations or User Acceptance Testing (UAT), with a strong willingness to learn, adapt to, and leverage AI-driven demand forecasting tools
  • You have strong quantitative skills with proficiency in data analysis software and inventory management platforms to translate complex data into actionable channel recommendations
  • You've proven your ability to partner effectively across B2B/Sales, Product, and Finance teams, navigating competing channel priorities and communicating data insights with minimal guidance
  • You're creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
  • You're agile and motivated by a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
  • You're passionate about transforming travel for all (but that's a given!)


What We Offer

Our total rewards are inclusive of both compensation and benefits. What we offer within a salary range is dependent on a number of factors, including scope and qualifications for the role, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to other Away employees. Salary and benefit offerings are reviewed during phone screenings to ensure alignment.
  • Compensation: $108,000-$120,000 annually
  • This role is eligible to participate in Away's Annual Company Performance Incentive Bonus Plan, the terms of which are determined at the discretion of the company
  • Equity Grant: commensurate with level determined at the discretion of the company
  • Benefits Overview:
    • Take care of yourself and your family through our health insurance offerings
    • Invest in your future by participating in our 401(k) (with a company match!)
    • Find balance through our many paid time off programs (vacation, wellbeing, holidays, summer Fridays, and compassion leave - just to name a few!)
    • Build your travel uniform through discount codes, product stipends, and giveaways
    • Give back through company-sponsored volunteer and charitable opportunities


How We Work

This is an office-based position that works from our Soho, NYC office four days a week. Our working hours are 9am-6pm et, but we embrace a common-sense approach to flexibility in the workplace. It's about being present, engaged, and balancing work with real-life needs.

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