Merchandise Planner

Purpose:
The Merch Planner is a trusted advisor to the Cluster Buying team & Country Manager.

The primary function of the role is to support the brand strategy and vision across the channel through investment in, and maintenance of, optimum assortments with partnership from our Merchants.

The Merch Planner will use strong analytical skills; financial acumen and knowledge of the local market to inform the product buy plans. The Merch Planner must be able to identify key business issues, taking the initiative to investigate and provide analysis on opportunities and risks in the business. This role will work closely with Cluster Buying, Allocation, Inventory management and Merchant partners to ensure effective execution of the end-to-end strategy.

**Responsibilities**:
Pre/Post Season
- Collaborate with Merchant team to develop customer segment productivity targets (assortment architecture) based on historical performance and strategic direction.
- Conduct ongoing quantitative analysis and insights across various dimensions (Time / Merchandise / Location) to optimize line profitability, monetize new opportunities and identify risks.
- Gather qualitative / quantitative feedback from key stakeholders (Commercial / Merchandising/ Marketing) to inform the direction and focus of future investments.
- Perform detailed post-seasonal analysis on assortment performance to better inform investments with robust supporting data.
- Develop bottom-up sales & inventory PC9 plan, delivering to line productivity and informing financial & inventory decisions.
- Collaborate with Merchant to develop sizing plan for future seasons, utilizing analysis and logic to input requirements and recommendations into sizing tools.
- Partner with Merchant and Inventory teams to build monthly flow plan for sales and inventory, accommodating product lifecycle expectations and markdown forecasts to inform and manage contribution to Outlet Flush pipeline.
- Collaborate with Finance and Commercial teams to reconcile bottom-up merchandise plans and top-down sales targets.
- Produce and present formal Investment Reviews to the local market as well as Cluster, communicating how the investment decisions will support the aligned business strategy.

In-Season
- Build monthly bottom-up demand forecast (item plan) to drive effective guidance for allocation, as well as to provide Finished Goods Planning with a stable and accurate demand signal.
- Complete a monthly top-down sales forecast and support rolling OTB framework, proposing relevant changes based on latest sales trends, risks, and inventory health.
- Drive consistent markdown / promotional cadence to manage in-season profitability, and maximize full price sell thru / margin whilst maintaining health of inventory profile.
- Collaborate with other channel Merchandise Planner, Merchants, and Inventory Management to align on and action product end-of-life decisions, contributing to total company inventory health.
- Effectively manage door capacity, closeout cleanse from Mainline, and collaborate with Outlet Merchandise Planner on MFO / Flush Mix in Outlet according to changing needs of the market in season (monitor and react).
- Actively support local and cluster S&OP process, providing necessary insights and recommending courses of action.
- Work with inventory management to ensure consistent in-season allocation & replenishment to drive appropriate coverage across stores and DC.
- Work with Inventory Management and Commercial / Finance teams to manage through inventory spikes beyond the capacity of Mainline stores.
- Bridge the communication between Cluster and local functional teams to ensure ways of working and brand strategy are consistently executed in local market.

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with at least 7 years of work experience in Retail business
- Strong analytical skills to interpret meaningful themes from quantitative data
- Ability to articulate key financial measures, and how they are used in key systems/tools.
- Comfort with systems and high proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Excel).
- Prior experience with planning solutions (SAS, SAP, etc.) a plus
- Ability to use rigor and logic to solve problems with effective solutions
- Ability to problem solve - both independently and through strong business partnerships
- Ability to analyze and assess impact of business decisions, both direct and indirect
- Proactively identify business issues and develop creative solutions.
- Consistently prioritize and manage workload and processes to meet objectives
- Ability to build constructive and effective relationships with a broad, diverse group of business partners.
- Ability to influence cross-functional partners through the delivery of articulate messages, backed by robust analysis.
- Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work with diverse teams.
- Ability to adjust communication style to provide information and direction in an