Lead, Business Planner

About the Role The role serves as a merchandise financial planning lead for the Department Store team, working cross-functionally to forecast consumer demand, plan optimal supply, and meet financial expectations. It sits within the Department Stores Integrated Portfolio Team and reports to the Planning Director for the Department Stores planning team. The position collaborates internally with Planning, Merchandising, Marketing, Operations, Sales/Partner, and other functional teams, and externally with Merchandising/Buying, Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing, and other account partners. The purpose is to ensure Nike products are accessible at the right time, place, and supply levels while delivering against revenue and inventory targets. Key Responsibilities Serve as a merchandise financial planning lead to the Department Store team, working cross-functionally to forecast consumer demand, plan optimal supply, and meet financial expectations. Set tops-down plans for key business dimensions across Gross-to-Net and Stock & Sales, balancing consumer demand, partner strategies, and alignment with the Sport architecture. Inform franchise/style planning, financial forecasts, and end-to-end inventory forecasts. Reconcile forecasts, recap business results, and clearly depict decision impacts with cross-functional and leadership teams. Lead and conduct internal and external seasonal financial account meetings to align with accounts open to buys and provide overall context to seasonal plans. Elevate in-season risks and help needed to achieve performance targets, including product chase, order cancels, and applying other inventory productivity levers. Collaborate with peers to ensure consistency of information, share standard methodologies, and drive system implementation. Engage with internal and external partners to understand opportunities, influence outcomes, and resolve differences while delivering against revenue and inventory targets. Work with Department Store accounts to ensure Nike products are accessible at the right time, place, and supply levels. Required Experience & Qualifications 5+ years' experience in merchandise planning, business planning, merchandising, sales, or retail buying. Curious and self-motivated, able to analyse large amounts of data and articulate the message behind it. Outstanding written and verbal communication, analytical capabilities, and attention to detail. Ability to collate and understand relevant market data that integrates and informs the plan; assessing risk and solving problems to deliver business results. Strong command of retail metrics including Retail Sales, ST%, WOS, Inventories (marketplace + DC), Revenue and Margin, with the ability to manipulate data for efficient outcomes. In-depth knowledge of consumers, competitors, and retail trends. Retail math fluency; ability to interpret financial sales data to make business decisions and recommendations. Experience with merchandise and forecasting management systems. Advanced capabilities in Excel. Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field; will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training. Ability to move at the pace of the consumer and be energised by opportunities surrounding the connection of physical and digital commerce. "Anything's possible" attitude and ability to translate insights into action by applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ability to effectively communicate complex data to a variety of audiences. Deep understanding of the marketplace, product, data-supported inventory planning, and ability to recognise new growth opportunities. Strong collaborator who proactively builds positive relationships spanning various functions and levels of leadership. Preferred Skills Knowledge of sports apparel and footwear market. About the Company The team is building a smarter, more connected, and automated value chain. #J-18808-Ljbffr Global Sports Jobs Limited