General Summary:
The Merchandise Planner develops, executes and communicates strategic merchandise financial plans that support the company’s financial, product, and marketing objectives; responsible for driving top line financial plans for a book of business from a category to class/season level; strategically managing the business in order to maximize sales and margin, and optimizing inventory; develops and contributes to the development of company initiatives and ensures that all planning activities support annual goals.
 
Principal Duties & Responsibilities:
Strategic Financial PlansAt a category/class/season level develop sales, gross margin and inventory plans that support the categories and company’s financial goals. Alignment with merchants to ensure product assortment meet the financial goals.Use historical data, current trends and strategy to identify risk and opportunity to achieve financial goalsCreate, maintain and communicate assumptions used to in creating the plan architectureWeekly Business Management Identify opportunities and risks relative to sales, margin, and inventory productivity; develop action plans to address issues and opportunitiesManage the markdown process and collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure that markdowns fit within the financial plan; identify Markdown risks and recommend strategies to limit liabilities.Develop ad hoc projections that simulate different business decisionsStrategic Monthly Forecast ReviewReview forecasts with a focus on maximizing profit, optimizing inventory, and managing risk across divisions. Incorporate marketing, markdown, and inventory management plans to exploit business prospects.Review and meet with merchant team to align on all financial revisionsWork collaboratively with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment to monthly changesCommunicate clearly and effectively updates and action plansAssortment PlanningCreate pre-season category plans to support the development of the assortmentReview historical data at cluster, category and key item level to understand prior performanceSet sales, margin, flow, and IMU goals prior to the planning of each delivery; reconcile tops down and bottom up forecasts prior to the passing of receipts to the merchant organizationParticipate in buy review with merchants, planners and allocators to ensure appropriate breadth and depth and flawless execution.  Collaborate with lead merchants to ensure that plans support product goals. Lead and facilitate buy finalization meeting with merchant; review pre-season plans that support new assortment; identify risks and opportunities relative to product, flow, and presentationGain consensus on assortment and plans from management; manage the locking process for seasonal plans; forecast seasonal and source plans to validate key metricsManage BusinessPartner with merchandising and other cross-functional teams to achieve financial goals through active management of the businessBe proactive in identifying risk and opportunities in a timely manner; develop action plans to limit risk and capitalize on opportunitiesOther duties as assigned. 
Position Requirements:
Office work environment, 40+ work hours per week
 
Minimum Requirements:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university preferred; advanced degree a plus
Experience: Four or more years of related experience in an analyst or planner role.  This should include prior experience in the retail industry.
Job Related Skills:  Well-developed written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex material in an organized and compelling manner; ability to influence and negotiate at a variety of levels; strong problem-solving and decision-making skill set.
Computer Skills:   Well-versed in planning systems as well as advanced Microsoft Windows applications; strong knowledge of financial theory is required. Experience with EP and Micro Strategy preferred.