Associate Merchandise Planner

Job Summary


As an Associate Merchandise Planner, you will manage Brand Planning for both pre-season and in-season timeframes to ensure SKU in-stock and DOH targets are met. Reporting to the Senior Merchandise Planner, you will be the financial partner with the Merchant to grow and drive business.

Duties and Responsibilities Time Spent


Create pre-season Brand Budget Plans partnering with Inventory Directors,


Merchants, and Vendors 10%


Develop New Brand strategies, projected sales, inventory by SKU needs, and order


flow set ups for launch timeframe 20%


Open to Buy (OTB): Own accurate monthly in season OTB sales, gm%, receipt, and


inventory adjustment projections. Reconcile OTB Sales and Receipt projections to


Replenishment/Demand Planning system forecasts. Present at monthly cross-


functional OTB meeting 20%


Partner with Demand Planning on forecast alignment and strategy 5%


Partner and guide Merchandise Planning Assistants to prioritize newness/important


orders, elevate and communicate delays in key launches 5%


Analytics: Analyze and validate sales and inventory needs for Key Initiatives,


Animations and promotions. Conduct Newness hindsight and key initiatives analysis
on a seasonal basis 15%


Develop liquidation strategy on exit brands/collections or overstock 5%
Consistent communication with vendors on sales performance, in-stocks, and outstanding issues 10%


Validate productive assortment by analysis and recommendations of presentation, items to discontinue, and items to develop, within productivity guidelines in collaboration with Merchandising Team 10%


Working Conditions


Mostly sedentary work with occasional need to move about the office to attend virtual meetings and


interact with colleagues


Standard home and office environment with minimal exposure to adverse environmental conditions.


Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines or address critical


performance issues. On-call duties may be necessary for urgent troubleshooting and resolution.


Limited travel may be required by senior leadership.

Qualifications


Experience Years


4+ years of Planning experience 4+


Education Certification and Licenses


Bachelor's degree in supply chain management,


finance/business, or a related field preferred


Competencies and Skills
• Excellent technical skills - MS Office (specifically Excel, Word).
• Contributes new ideas and finds solutions to business challenges in merchandising, operations and finance.
• Proven ability to interpret and synthesize data into intelligent business decisions.
• Must be detail-oriented, with strong organizational and task management skills.
• Clear and concise written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to handle multiple priorities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, often-changing environment.