Lead Merchandising Planner

Auto req ID: 60708 
Title: Lead Merchandising Planner 
Job Function: Apparel 
Location: JUNEAU
Workplace Category: Onsite 
Company: Harley-Davidson Motor Company 
Full or Part-Time: Full Time 
Shift: SHIFT1 

 

In 1903, out of a small shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four young men lit a cultural wildfire that would grow and spread across geographies and generations. Their innovation and imagination for what was possible on two wheels sparked a transportation revolution that would make Harley-Davidson the most recognizable motorcycle brand in the world. Today, we continue to define motorcycle culture, evoking soul-stirring emotion reflected in every product and experience we deliver - like we have for well over a century and will for generations to come. Are you ready to ride with us?

 

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, founded in a humble Milwaukee backyard shed in 1903, still calls the city home. Today, its Corporate Campus includes a 4.8-acre public park—a welcoming greenspace open to all. Join our team as a Lead Merchandising Planner.

 

 

The Lead Merchandising Planner is a high-impact, strategic planning role responsible for driving category performance and enterprise planning discipline across Motor Clothes & Licensing. The role operates with a P&L mindset, translating long-range strategy into actionable category, financial, and inventory plans that drive sustainable growth, margin expansion, and inventory health. As a key integrator across Product, Commercial, and Operations, this role ensures alignment between strategy, demand, and execution. 

 

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise & Long-Range Planning
• Support development of 3–5 year category and channel strategies aligned to enterprise and motorcycle growth objectives
• Translate strategic targets into category-level revenue, margin, and portfolio plans (SKU count, productivity, lifecycle)
• Ensure product portfolios are sized appropriately to meet financial targets
• Partner with Commercial teams to establish data-driven targets by region and category
• Lead top-down and bottom-up reconciliation process to ensure aligned, realistic growth targets
• Challenge assumptions to avoid under-targeting and ensure credible plans

 

Portfolio & Lifecycle Management
• Define SKU productivity targets and assortment architecture
• Implement lifecycle management strategies (core vs seasonal, refresh cadence, exit criteria)
• Monitor performance (sales, margins, inventory, and sell-through) to drive real-time decisions on buys, cancellations, and reallocations
• Partner with Supply Chain to align inventory flow with demand signals
• Evaluate replenishment forecasts and strategy against MOQ constraints to ensure inventory turn targets 

 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Continuous Improvement
• Serve as a key integrator across Merchandising, Commercial, Finance, Design, and Supply Chain
• Drive alignment between product strategy, market demand and operational execution
• Lead collaborative planning sessions (MBR, Open to Buy, etc.) focused on clear decisions and accountability 
• Promote P&L mindset and reinforce KPI driven performance management and planning discipline
• Drive continuous improvements of planning processes, tools and reporting

 

Qualifications & Experience

This position typically requires a minumum of 8 years of related experience. In addition, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the following: 
• Proven experience in category or portfolio planning, including SKU productivity and assortment management
• Experience supporting long-range and annual planning processes, translating strategy into actionable financial and inventory plans
• Strong understanding of retail P&L drivers, with the ability to connect planning decisions (Buys, pricing, SKU count) into measurable financial outcomes (revenue, margin, inventory productivity)
• Advanced analytical capability, including Excel and BI/reporting tools with the ability to synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable insights
• Demonstrated ability to operate cross-functionally and influence decisions without direct authority in complex environments
• Strong communication and leadership skills with ability to challenge assumptions, drive alignment and make decisions through ambiguous environments
• Results-oriented mindset with a track record of owning business outcomes and delivering measurable performance improvements

Preferred 
• Experience partnering closely with Commercial/Sales organizations on market planning and target setting
• Exposure to open-to-buy processes, inventory management strategies and supply/demand balancing
• Demonstrated capabilities in product lifecycle management or assortment architecture optimization 

 

The pay range shown represents the national average pay range for this role. Your pay may be more or less than the stated range and is dependent on your geographic location and level of experience.

 

We offer an inclusive compensation package for all full-time salaried employees including, but not limited to, annual bonus programs, health insurance benefits, a 401k program, onsite fitness centers and employee stores, employee discounts on products and accessories, and more. Learn more about Harley-Davidson here .

 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

 

Direct Reports: No
Travel Required: 0 - 10%
Pay Range: $104,100 - $155,900 
Visa Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or visa transfer
Relocation: This position is eligible for domestic relocation assistance (within posted country)