Planner

Job Title: Planner
Location: Reynoldsburg, OH
Work Model: Onsite / Hybrid / Remote
Compensation: $

POSITION OVERVIEW
Merchandise Planner serves as the business manager for a book of business and is primarily responsible for translating the Merchants vision into viable plans and profitable results. The Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining sales, inventory and margin plans that tie to financial targets for an assigned Sub-Brand or Category. Plans will begin at the Sub-Brand or Category level and will drive to choice-level (Style/Color) plans, creating targeted assortments by cluster of stores with similar selling characteristics. In partnership with the Merchant, the Planner drives to additional value through optimizing the assortment for these store clusters. In collaboration with the Demand Forecaster, the Merchandise Planner generates demand plans, which incorporate statistically-based forecasts, merchandise plans and business knowledge. Demand plans provide the basis for future merchandise plans, as well as a forward-looking expectation of sales to inform the distribution process.



WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
Pre-Season
Build and refine a class/sub-class plan based on guidance from Category and Attribute plans created by Strategic Planning - the class/sub-brand plan is a weekly dollar and unit merchandise plan by class, sub-brand and potentially subclass
Partner with Merchants to create and maintain a seasonal theme-based assortment list and volume targets by store grouping (format, cluster, etc)
Develop assortment plans for sales, margin and inventory to the style/choice level by store groupings (cluster/format, etc) in support of productivity and financial targets
Use demand forecast, pattern after items, targets from attribute and category plans, test results and historical trends
Incorporate impact of events and entrance/exit strategies
Propose initial and promotional pricing by item Participate in consensus planning with demand planner; collaborate to drive to one number sales plan with recommendations for events, based on class plan and forecast
Communicate merchandise plans to other functional groups as follows:


Logistics for their review from a capacity standpoint. Information gained is then reconciled with the plan; issues reviewed and discussed together
Finance to inform their rolling business plan; together review and discuss any related issues
Stores to inform their labor estimates
Compliance to inform of possible categories for new product quality, testing and regulatory considerations
Customer Marketing to give strategic direction for the development/refinement of their seasonal campaign plans
Support the Sales & Operations Planning process by assisting in the preparation of materials for purposes of evaluating and resolving supply/demand imbalances
Identify test candidates that fit with merchandise strategy
In-Season
Analyze and reflect current trends in performance of strategy based on actual sales performance; revise in-season plans for sales and profitability, control inventory levels
Partner with Merchant to develop and propose tactics in response to current business trends
Manage and execute promotional and liquidation strategy
Manage the assortment to approved inventory targets
Communicate revisions both within the team and cross functionally
Work with Demand Forecaster to formulate alternate event options
Actively manage inventory levels pulling up, pushing back or cancelling orders; and by working with Inventory Deployment to recommend reorders
Reporting/Analytics
Analyze performance for area of responsibility relative to performance of plan and trend for both period and season sales, margin and inventory
Prepare recommendations and alternatives for key financial meetings/decisions in order to maximize sales and margin and optimize inventory productivity, in partnership with Merchant.
Perform trade-off analysis on impact of new items to the assortment identified at a sub-brand level and provide financial planning recommendations
Integration Points
Partner with Strategic Planning to inform, reconcile and revise financial targets based on the category and attribute plans
Participate in consensus planning with Demand Forecasters; collaborate to drive to one number plan and recommendations for event modeling
Partner with Inventory Deployment to establish and implement short- and long-term inventory management objectives and review order quantities
Work with cross-functional partners to make informed decisions on promotional events and season planning, exit strategies, new item launches and collections; provide recommendations in response to financial targets
Assist Merchandising, Logistics and Production to optimize flow of goods from suppliers to warehouses, distribution agents and fulfillment centers.
Work with demand forecasting to improve reliability through demand plan accuracy
Integrate with Space Planning to represent the opportunities and constraints that the physical environment creates at store level, monitor results from tests, launches and edits



WHAT'S NEEDED
5-7 years of retail planning, demand forecasting experience, inventory management, allocation, assortment planning, or replenishment experience, financial planning or financial analysis experience
Bachelor's degree in finance, operations, economics, business, statistics
Requires strong problem-solving and analytical skills; strong aptitude with numbers; retail math skills
Strong technical skills in Microsoft Excel or related planning, finance or analytical systems
Experienced in data management systems, like JDA Enterprise Software Enterprise Planning suite
Merchant or merchandising experience a plus
Positive business influence skills
Able to identify and influence critical stakeholders, proactively problem solve, and recommend solutions
Strong communication and presentation skills: concisely presents complex information and recommendations in terms meaningful to a variety of audiences
Demonstrated leadership capability and executive presence
Optimization Mindset - designs and develops models/plans to optimize decisions
Builds collaborative partnerships cross-functionally; identifies/influences critical stakeholders
Ability to articulate detailed action plans to successfully accomplish goal
Understands and executes against business strategy and goals


Makes decisions with limited information but also able to synthesize large quantities of data to drive business decisions
Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks/projects

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Other standard benefits as applicable


ABOUT UNICON
UNICON is a workforce solutions provider with over 35 years of experience supporting organizations across a variety of industries. We partner with our clients to deliver skilled professionals while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance, and long-term relationships. UNICON is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.