**Senior Merchandise Planner**

Category: Corporate

Location: 10850 Via Frontera, San Diego , CA 92127

Schedule: Full_time

C ome work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!

To serve a lead role in the planning organization, responsible for translating company strategy and direction into financial goals including Sales, Margin, Receipt, Inventory Turnover, and IMROI that reconcile with tops down budgets. Drive consistency in all planning processes and in the application of best practices across category teams. Bring analytical support and financial focus to help make decisions and develop strategies that will deliver and maximize Sales, Margin, Turnover and Inventory Return on Investment (IMROI) goals. The Senior Merchandise Planner is also responsible for maintaining in-season financial plans that reconcile to financial targets at a class/brand/program level.

**Scope:**

This position must demonstrate management-level leadership foresight, strong business acumen, and be able to make sound recommendations and provide clear visibility to risks and opportunities within the business. The incumbent will also provide leadership to a cross functional team over which they do not directly supervise. The incumbent is expected to help lead their team through the successful development and execution of financial models, strategic plans and tactical imperatives to support the business plan for their assigned categories.

**Essential Job Functions:** *The incumbent must be able to perform all of the following duties and responsibilities with or without a reasonable accommodation.*

* Be the financial and business expert through knowledge of current and future trends in the business/industry and be able to create innovative and efficient solutions to business opportunities and risks

* Demonstrate strong leadership skills and initiative to work independently and in cross functional teams

* Interact professionally and effectively through excellent written and oral communication skills to all levels of the organization; demonstrate communication and presentation skills, especially to corporate Senior Management

* Be mature, highly motivated, have a professional demeanor, and be capable of working with and/or leading cross-functional teams in an effective and collaborative matter

* Partner with the Manager and Merchandise Business Unit Lead to provide ongoing strategic direction and assure seamless execution of Annual Operating Plans. Collaborate with Director and VP level on strategy and relevant goals.

* Develop annual financial budgets and in-season forecasts by Department/Class/Brand to include, but not limited to Sales, Margin, Inventory, Turnover, and IMROI goals that reconcile with the total Company

* Provide mentoring, training, and coaching to Planning and Inventory teams

* Partner with Manager/Director of Planning & Inventory in the review process of financial analysis and deliverables from team including providing direction and feedback as necessary

* Demonstrate logical analytical abilities, creative problem-solving skills, and financially sound judgment to deliver conclusions and recommendations to all levels of the organization

* Ability to be flexible, multi-task, and prioritize under tight deadlines.

**Other Duties and Responsibilities:**

*Pre-Season*

In partnership with the Business Unit Leaders, orchestrate and lead the process to build collaborative department/Class/Brand plans based on strategic initiatives and category resets. Department/Class/Brand plan include weekly dollar and unit plans, broken out by Channel (Brick & Mortar and E-Commerce) that reconcile to top down budgets

Set Sales, Margin, Markdown, Inventory and Receipt plans

Collaborate with the Merchandise Business Unit Lead to develop business strategy and growth initiatives through the annual operation plan (AOP) and annual budgeting process

Incorporate impact of promotional/marketing events and product entrance/exit strategies to meet the sales and margin objectives

Communicate merchandise plans to key stakeholders including but not limited to:

SVP of Planning & Inventory, SVP of Merchandising, Director of Planning & Inventory, Merchandise Leads, Inventory Management, Central Planning, etc.

*In-Season*

Lead monthly financial review to leadership and Merchandising partners; present forecast of Sales, Margin, Receipt, Inventory and Turnover metrics reflecting trends and business drivers, as well as action plans to achieve sales and margin objectives

Partner with Merchandise team to develop and propose actions in response to current business trends and incorporate into go-forward plans

Identify performance standards, develop contingency plans, measure progress and adjust performance accordingly

Modeling, analyzing, and evaluating the impact of key variables (for example: seasonal events, assortment mix, market dynamics, pricing initiatives, etc.) on category performance and risk exposure

Ensure business needs are being met by evaluating the ongoing effectiveness of current plans, programs, and initiatives; consulting with business partners

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.