Senior Merchandise Planner

We are looking for a Senior Merchandise Planner for a Global apparel manufacturer here in NYC. 4 days in office! POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES Develop, execute, and communicate strategic merchandise pre-season and in-season financial plans that support the company's financial and assortment objectives. Own the brand Open-to-Buy budget and re-forecast tools and process. Recommend strategic actions to maximize sales and margin, optimize inventory, and mitigate risk. Develop pre-season category financial goals with inventory, receipts, and SKU targets that support the brand's objectives, in collaboration with Merchandising. Translate category assortment strategies into SKU-level demand plans, balancing newness with core assortment. Lead in-season demand forecasting and inventory flow strategies to improve availability, inventory turns, and sell-through while minimizing excess inventory. Optimize receipt timeliness to support sales forecasts, with recommendations to chase or re-flow receipts as appropriate. Proactively identify risks and opportunities based on sales trends. Recommend clear, business-relevant actions to maximize margin and inventory efficiency. Lead actions, such as pricing and promotions, with cross-functional teams. Serve as a collaborative partner to Merchandising, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance. Lead cross-functional meetings with cohesive financial and inventory-related data and proposed solutions. Communicate planning assumptions, risks, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders at all levels. Leverage ERP, BI platforms, Excel, and AI to optimize planning processes. Other duties assigned as needed. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree with a focus in Business, Finance, or a related discipline. 5–8+ years of experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or financial planning, with Apparel or Denim experience preferred. Strong experience with Mass Retailers Strong expertise in retail math, forecasting, inventory management, and financial analysis. Experience in independently managing an Open-to-Buy. Advanced mastery of Microsoft Excel, including but not limited to pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and data modeling; proficiency in AI tools. Experience managing large, complex datasets with a high degree of accuracy. Familiarity with BI tools, ERP, or planning platforms (SAP, NetSuite, or similar). Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and partner cross-functionally. Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable making recommendations in a fast-paced environment. Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a strategic, big-picture perspective. US citizen or permanent resident (no Visa sponsorship available). #J-18808-Ljbffr