Sr. Retail Planner, Accessories & Merch

HirexHire (pronounced hire by hire) is a Chicago-based recruiting and talent consultancy that integrates with companies short-term to provide long-term talent solutions. We take a seat in our client’s everyday operations to understand their people goals, gaps, and challenges. We then develop and implement the processes and technologies to execute a sustainable and scalable talent plan. We partner with companies expecting or experiencing high growth which need to hire at scale or fill a critical role rapidly. Our clients are not looking for quick-fix placements but are thoughtfully building a hiring strategy to scale their businesses.

OUR CLIENT

Location: Chicago, IL Company Size: 4,000+ Employees What They Do: Our client in the cannabis industry currently operates in a quarter of the country with double-digit retail locations and a triple-digit growth rate making them one of the fastest-growing companies in North America. As they avidly tackle nationwide development with cultivation facilities, dispensaries, and their headquarters in Chicago – the demand to fill their teams is at an all-time high.

THE ROLE

Our client is seeking a Senior Retail Planner to lead the financial planning, inventory strategy, and allocation efforts for its non-cannabis and ancillary retail categories. This individual will own category forecasting, replenishment planning, inventory productivity, and store-level allocation while partnering closely with the Buying team to drive profitable assortment decisions. The ideal candidate combines strong retail planning expertise with exceptional analytical skills and thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where data informs strategic decision making.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Develop and manage annual, seasonal, and monthly financial plans, forecasts, and open-to-buy strategies for assigned product categories. Partner closely with the Buyer to provide data-driven recommendations on assortment planning, product launches, pricing, and end-of-life strategies. Build and maintain inventory allocation and replenishment strategies that optimize in-stock levels while minimizing excess inventory. Monitor category performance, inventory health, sell-through, and margin trends, identifying opportunities to improve profitability. Analyze store performance and customer demand to recommend allocation adjustments, inventory balancing, and SKU optimization. Lead regular business reviews, delivering actionable insights and performance reporting to cross-functional stakeholders. Support vendor planning through forecasting, volume projections, and inventory recommendations that align with business objectives. Collaborate with Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Supply Chain teams to continuously improve inventory planning processes and execution.

WHAT YOU WILL LIKELY NEED

5+ years of experience in retail planning, merchandise planning, allocation, or inventory strategy. Experience supporting high-SKU, high-volume retail environments with complex inventory management needs. Strong understanding of retail planning metrics including open-to-buy, inventory turns, sell-through, gross margin, and forecasting. Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into business recommendations. Proven ability to influence cross-functional partners through financial analysis and clear communication. Experience developing allocation strategies based on store performance, customer demand, and regional trends. Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving retail environment. Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset. Experience with retail planning, merchandising, or inventory management systems is preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Must pass any required background checks. Must comply with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry. Must possess a valid driver\'s license and be at least 21 years of age. Must be approved by the applicable state badging agency to work in the cannabis industry. Candidates should reside in New Jersey or New York and be able to travel to New Jersey approximately once per quarter. #J-18808-Ljbffr HirexHire