Sr Manager Merchandise Planning

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Merchandise Planning Manager/Sr Manager will lead the process to plan, forecast and manage sales, margin, inventory, receipts and turn for retail and direct business for Financial and Demand components. Key responsibilities are to maximize sales, gross profit, inventory turns, minimize markdowns, and manage the open to buy with accurate monthly sales, receipt and margin forecasts for specific categories by analyzing financials, market, and customer data.  Responsible for ensuring the demand plan aligns with the financial plan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Aligns with DMM to develop strategy and financial plans to achieve annual financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans to support the company's budgeted sales, gross margin and turn goals. Aligns tops down financial plans/forecasts with bottoms up demand plans/forecasts.
• Lead the development of department financial plans and bottoms up demand plans to achieve or exceed financial goals.
• Manage open to buy reports forecasting sales, gross margin, receipts and inventory at a DMM level
• Lead the Demand Planning process for area of responsibility ensuring that financial plans/forecasts align with demand plan. 
• Ensure accurate receipt forecasts by week/month and provide insight to Inventory Management on components to adjust for optimal receipt investment.
• Lead consensus demand meetings with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment on forecasts.
• Partner with DMM on seasonal/annual strategies and weekly/monthly business reviews to identify opportunities and risks and support needed.
• Quantify in-season risks and opportunities and confidently make recommendations based on facts.
• Build and develop relationships with Merchants and Inventory Management partners to achieve financial results for area of responsibility and total company.
• Leads, develops, trains and mentors the Merchandise Planners
• All other duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Degree Required:   Bachelor's Degree, in Supply Chain, Business, Finance or related field.

5 years of experience in retail environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Proficient PC skills, including MS Office Suite and advanced Excel
• Understanding of retail math components
• Aptitude to analyze data to identify trends, issues and opportunities
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills at multiple levels within the organization including senior management
• Ability to present business strategies and action plans to cross functional groups
• Support an environment that fosters respect for the ideas of others as well as ongoing collaboration to execute business strategy
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and remain detailed oriented.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• N/A

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

POSITION SUMMARY:
 

The Merchandise Planning Manager/Sr Manager will lead the process to plan, forecast and manage sales, margin, inventory, receipts and turn for retail and direct business for Financial and Demand components. Key responsibilities are to maximize sales, gross profit, inventory turns, minimize markdowns, and manage the open to buy with accurate monthly sales, receipt and margin forecasts for specific categories by analyzing financials, market, and customer data.  Responsible for ensuring the demand plan aligns with the financial plan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (List the primary duties and responsibilities of the job. This should not be a task list or desk procedures, but the top 5 to 7 responsibilities of the job. List the duties in descending order of impact/time. Each function should begin with a verb such as Creates, Develops, Performs, etc.)

• Aligns with DMM to develop strategy and financial plans to achieve annual financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans to support the company's budgeted sales, gross margin and turn goals. Aligns tops down financial plans/forecasts with bottoms up demand plans/forecasts.
• Lead the development of department financial plans and bottoms up demand plans to achieve or exceed financial goals.
• Manage open to buy reports forecasting sales, gross margin, receipts and inventory at a DMM level
• Lead the Demand Planning process for area of responsibility ensuring that financial plans/forecasts align with demand plan. 
• Ensure accurate receipt forecasts by week/month and provide insight to Inventory Management on components to adjust for optimal receipt investment.
• Lead consensus demand meetings with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment on forecasts.
• Partner with DMM on seasonal/annual strategies and weekly/monthly business reviews to identify opportunities and risks and support needed.
• Quantify in-season risks and opportunities and confidently make recommendations based on facts.
• Build and develop relationships with Merchants and Inventory Management partners to achieve financial results for area of responsibility and total company.
• Leads, develops, trains and mentors the Merchandise Planners
• All other duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Degree Required:   Bachelor's Degree, in Supply Chain, Business, Finance or related field.

5 years of experience in retail environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Proficient PC skills, including MS Office Suite and advanced Excel
• Understanding of retail math components
• Aptitude to analyze data to identify trends, issues and opportunities
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills at multiple levels within the organization including senior management
• Ability to present business strategies and action plans to cross functional groups
• Support an environment that fosters respect for the ideas of others as well as ongoing collaboration to execute business strategy
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and remain detailed oriented.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• N/A

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Regularly sits, and does computer work.

Occasionally walks, and stands.

Seldom/Never lifts up to 50 lbs.

INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT :

Develops strategic direction, goals, plans and policies for an area of responsibility. Sets broad objectives and is accountable for overall results in respective area of responsibility. Authority to make independent decisions on matters of significance. Requires high degree of independent judgment and problem solving of complex problems.

Full Time Benefits Summary:
Enjoy discounts on retail merchandise, our restaurants, world-class resorts and conservation attractions

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Savings