Associate Planner
Reynoldsburg, USA Marketing
Job description
Description
The Associate Planner analyzes, tracks, and reports on data to assist in the identification and execution of merchandise plans for a category. Primarily focused on working with the Merchandise Planner to develop pre-season and in-season plans while incorporating such items as current trends, promotional activity, and changes to assortment. Works with cross functional partners such as merchandising, inventory, and other functions in MP&A.
Must possess the ability to:
*Develop forecasts for new skus and strategize assortment from a financial perspective
*Basic understanding of retail supply chain management inclusive of inventory planning
*Maintain SKU level forecasts that are updated monthly or more frequently based on needs of the business, inclusive of units, sales dollars, and margin. Identifies trend changes and impacts to business
*Collaborate with Inventory Deployment Analyst and Demand Forecaster to ensure plan alignment with Manugistics forecasting
*Work with Central Planning in identifying targets for pre-season and in-season
*Present business trends and forecast to management in monthly MPR (Monthly Planning Review)
*Aid Merchandise Planner in developing long term forecasts to act as basis for seasonal architecture to meet business needs
*Review and provide forecast hindsighting for season for cross-functional team
*Actively pursue growth and development opportunities, continually finding ways to improve
*Communicate openly and directly; accept responsibility and champion ideas despite challenges
*Champion change, taking risks as needed and demonstrating flexibility
*Encourage innovation, creativity and risk-taking through influence in teams
*Cultivate the ability to work effectively under stressful and changing circumstances
*Foster teamwork by being a valued team player and building good relationships across functional and division lines
*Set high personal performance standards that deliver results, convey a sense of urgency and enthusiasm for the business, and help achieve goals despite obstacles or opposition
*On a weekly basis, build preseason financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans that tie to the company’s sales, margin and turnover goals. Monitor performance in season, maintain the open to buy, and recommend strategies to stay on plan
Qualifications
*Bachelor's degree in finance, operations, economics, business, statistics or equivalent experience
*Minimum 2 years of experience in: retail merchandise planning, demand planning, inventory management, allocation or replenishment, financial planning or financial analysis experience
*Excellent understanding of merchandise as it relates to company strategy
*Excellent communication, prioritizing and problem-solving skills
*Keen ability to interact with peers and merchants
*Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Access
*System skills capabilities and proficiency in Manugistics, Data Warehouse and Arthur Planning preferred
An equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.