Merchandise Planner

Job Title

Merchandise Planner

Location

Support Center - Las Vegas, NV 89119 US (Primary)

Job Type

Full-time

Category

Planning & Allocation

Education

Job Description

Join our Support Center and be a pivotal resource to our field and distribution teams -where innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and career growth come together in an exciting environment!

Location: Support Center, 6600 S Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Schedule : Monday - Friday, Weekends as needed, 40-50 hours per week

Pay : up to $62,000 - $80,000 annually


Job Type : Full-time

Benefits

• Employee Discount
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• Flex Time Off
• Disability Insurance
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) with company match

Job Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Planning

• Own the development, communication, and execution of category merchandise plans, including sales, receipts, markdown, margin, and inventory targets.
• Translate top-down financial goals into actionable merchandise plans, ensuring alignment with company strategy and long-range financial objectives.
• Partner with Buying, Finance, and Supply Chain to proactively identify opportunities and risks, and recommend strategies to maximize sales and profitability.
• Lead post-mortem analyses to measure results against plans, providing actionable insights to inform future strategies.

Inventory & Assortment Optimization

• Oversee forecasting, allocation, and replenishment strategies across categories to balance stock levels, drive turns, and improve product availability.
• Build and maintain advanced planning models (OTB, seasonality curves, lead times, min/max settings) that drive efficient inventory flow.
• Optimize assortments at store and channel level, leveraging data-driven insights to recommend range rationalization, space productivity improvements, and SKU productivity.
• Lead entrance/exit strategies for seasonal and promotional products, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal risk exposure.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of Replenishment Planners/Analysts, setting performance goals, driving engagement, and building capability.
• Act as the primary planning partner to Buying, Finance, Supply Chain, and Field Operations leadership, influencing decision-making through data-driven recommendations.
• Represent the Planning function in cross-functional meetings, providing insights and recommendations to senior leaders.
• Partner with vendors on planning forecasts, OTIF performance, and capacity management to ensure timely flow of product.

Process, Tools & Reporting

• Champion the use of advanced analytics and planning tools (e.g., Aptos Analytics, Smartlook, Power BI, Tableau) to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and visibility.
• Lead the development of reporting dashboards to track KPIs and support decision-making at the executive level.
• Continuously evaluate and improve planning processes, identifying opportunities for automation, efficiency, and scalability.
• Partner with IT and systems teams to implement upgrades and test new planning tools.

Customer & Market Insights

• Regularly review market trends, competitor activity, and customer demand signals to inform planning decisions.
• Visit stores and distribution centers to gain firsthand perspective on assortment effectiveness, availability, and execution.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in retail merchandise planning, allocation, or inventory management, with at least 2 years in a senior or leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an OTB , drive financial results, and influence category strategy.
• Advanced analytical and financial modeling skills with proven experience in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, Power Query, macros), and proficiency with planning/analytics systems (Aptos, Smartlook, Oracle, SAP, or similar).
• Strong track record of people leadership : managing, coaching, and developing direct reports.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills; able to effectively interact with senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing priorities, and deliver results against tight deadlines.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and a passion for continuous improvement.
• Travel required for store and vendor visits as needed.
• Satisfactory Criminal Background Check and Drug Testing may be required depending upon location.

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in math or statistics preferred
• 2+ years relevant work experience in a retail corporate office or stores
• Experience with merchandising, planning, and/or allocation systems preferred
• Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail, ability to manage varying priorities in accordance with business demands
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel. Power Point, Publisher)
• Experience with merchandise analytics
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Desire to work as a team with a results driven approach
• Ability to multitask and problem solve
• Satisfactory Criminal Background Check and Drug Testing May be required depending upon location

Additional Requirements

• Frequent sitting
• Limited standing, walking, climbing, crouching, bending, pushing, or pulling
• Limited travel or overnight
• Normal or corrected vision and hearing
• Can distinguish varying or specific colors, patterns, or materials
• Fluency in English is required for training, customer interactions, and ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures
• Typically, indoors
• Typically, in a consistent temperature
• Lift 0-25 lbs.
• Use of fine motor hand functions

We can't wait to meet you so apply today!

About Us

WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer with over 1,700 stores across 30 countries worldwide. WHSmith North America, incorporating Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, represents over half of the Company's international store estate, with a collection of attractive, successful specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.

Marshall Retail Group prides itself on creating unique experiences for customers by developing distinctive retail store concepts that feature and highlight the local culture, community, and lifestyle of the cities in which they are located. InMotion Entertainment Group is the largest airport-based electronics retailer in travel locations globally, with access and insight into the latest technologies for business and leisure travelers, InMotion offers lifestyle products and electronics that include a wide breadth of headphones, mobile power, Bluetooth speakers and travel accessories.

EEO/ADA/DFWP

Marshall Retail Group/InMotion is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin/ancestry, age, gender identity, gender expression, military/veteran status, marital status, disability status or any other basis prohibited by law. At Marshall Retail Group/InMotion, it's about each person bringing passion and skills to a dynamic and inclusive workplace!