Title:                     Merchandise Planner

Department:         Retail, Planning and Allocation

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, execute and communicate merchandise financial plans that support the merchandising, marketing and financial objective of one or more departments.


• Drive financial results that maximize sales, inventory and bottom-line profitability.  Manage the activities and career development of one or more Store Planners.


• Manage the financial success of multiple departments by meeting sales, gross margin, gross margin return on investment (GMROI) and inventory turnover goals.


• Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities.


• Create pre-season sales, gross margin and inventory plans that support product strategies.


• Reconcile top-down to bottom-up plans.


• Recap and analyze actual sales results to plan; forecast in-season sales and inventory on a monthly and quarterly basis.


• Identify risks and opportunities to business and recommend strategies to achieve financial goals.


• Own open to buy forecasts.  Present financial forecast and supporting action plans in open-to-buy/monthly SOC meeting.


• Re-forecast sales and manage inventory for all key item styles to meet department financial goals.


• Develop and communicate departmental level mark down recommendation and strategies.


• Participate in company and brand initiatives as appropriate.


• Communicate financial results, forecasts and action plans to Director and merchandise team on a weekly basis.


• Present financial plans, forecasts and strategies in key meetings.


• Communicate standards and performance expectations to direct reports in a timely manner.


• Support a collaborative, innovative and results-oriented environment with all peers.


• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of all areas (merchandising, allocation, visual, production, planning, company planning)


• Prioritize and set expectations around key deliverables with cross-functional team and peers.


• Develop cross-divisional relationships to share best practices.

Skills Required:

• Able to negotiate with and influence peers and members of cross-functional team.


• Able to build and maintain productive relationships with peers and cross-functional teams.


• Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities


• Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines


• Demonstrates strong listening, written and oral communication skills


• Able to formally present business strategies and action plans


• Demonstrate logical analysis and problem-solving skills


• Possesses a clear understanding of financial measurement which could include:  sales, gross margin, gross margin return on investment (GMROI), weeks of supply (WOS), etc. and how to impact them


• Facility with personal computers, including the ability or aptitude to learn technical applications quickly


• Proficient with Microsoft Excel


• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required


• 1-2 year’s experience as a Planner/Analyst or equivalent


• 1-3 years’ experience of retail buying, planning or related analytical experience.