Assistant Planner

The Assistant Planner maximizes gross margin dollars & inventory productivity by providing the overall financial direction of a vendor(s) or category(categories) within a business. Assistant Planners are primarily responsible for developing seasonal merchandise financial plans and by-door plans, pricing and assortment optimization for their portion of business. Assistant Planners also work with Buyers in assortment and buy planning by facilitating layering of assortments and validating the profitability of purchases. In-season, Assistant Planners provide in-depth analysis of product performance and make recommendations to maximize business opportunities

Essential Function

Develop merchandise financial plans, vendor or class as appropriate, that support the merchandise strategies while achieving corporate financial goals both for the short term (seasonal) and long term (multi-year).

Exercise discretion and independent judgment in developing the merchandise financial plans under minimal supervision.

Improve profitability by creating and executing the assortment plan and the initial buy plan through use of hindsighting and profitability tools

Develop and manage replenishment budgets by providing analytics required for planning and managing replenishment programs.

Improve profitability by driving sales, margin, and turn by analyzing monthly forecast performance against pre-season strategies and goals and making adjustments or recommendations for adjustments to the strategies and goals; manage the business through in-season forecasting

Complete forecasts and recommendations for Monthly Forecast process to manage business in season and maximize opportunities through product lifecycle management

Manage product lifecycle through appropriate promotions and markdowns

Optimize profitability by driving the permanent markdown process & in-season POS pricing strategies

Manage vendor planning and item planning as needed (i.e. ladders)

Partner with allocation team to reconcile merchandise and by-door plans with store level opportunities

*Required For All Jobs *
Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all policies and standards

*QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
Education Level
Education Details
Required/
Preferred
Bachelor's Degree
Required
or equivalent years of experience
Specific Degree: Business, Finance, Accounting and or Retail
Required
WORK EXPERIENCE
Experience
Experience Details
Preferred *
Specific work or project experience: Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Windows Operating System and Microsoft Office Suite

Required
1-3 years

retail/financial planning experience

Required
Prior Finance and or/ Retail Experience

Preferred
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Ability to analyze data from multiple sources to identify trends & risks, resolve issues, and recognize opportunities

Demonstrates initiative in exposing and resolving risks and opportunities

Communicates effectively and maintains relationships at all levels internally and with vendors

Demonstrates intermediate-level proficiency using retail merchandising systems & tools to drive business results

Demonstrates intermediate-level proficiency using Oracle systems & tools (e.g. SAS, RMS, APX) to drive business results

Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external partners (vendors) to proactively address business needs

Proficiency in excel