Merchandise Planner 3 [AQ-18644]

Aquent is partnering with a globally recognized leader in retail, where innovation meets impact. This organization is at the forefront of shaping consumer experiences and driving market trends, offering an environment where your contributions directly influence global strategy and marketplace execution.

Step into a crucial role where your strategic vision and analytical prowess will directly influence product assortments, investment decisions, and seasonal strategies for a leading global brand. You will serve as a key connective point, translating global strategies into impactful marketplace execution and shaping the retail performance of beloved products. This is a unique opportunity to blend advanced analytics with strategic planning and executive communication, driving both immediate results and long-term growth across all sales channels.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and maintain a forward-looking view of marketplace demand, consumer trends, and product performance to inform global and geographic planning.
• Partner with planning teams to build demand plans that align with seasonal priorities and strategic business objectives.
• Translate marketplace insights into actionable recommendations that influence assortment, inventory, and investment decisions, ensuring alignment between global priorities and regional marketplace needs.
• Analyze portfolio evolution and category performance across diverse consumer segments and channels to identify expansion opportunities for emerging franchises and optimize existing business drivers.
• Influence assortment decisions using marketplace insights, performance analysis, and consumer demand signals, collaborating with merchandising and product teams to shape future line planning and seasonal product strategies.
• Support the creation and updating of executive-level scorecards, dashboards, and business reviews to monitor global retail performance.
• Provide senior leadership with clear perspectives on performance trends, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
• Consolidate insights from owned channels, partner marketplaces, and retail channels into a cohesive marketplace narrative.
• Support key planning forums, operating reviews, marketplace reviews, and seasonal business checkpoints.
• Help build scalable analytical frameworks to improve visibility into sales performance, consumer behavior, inventory health, and marketplace trends.
• Leverage automation, data science, and AI-enabled processes to accelerate decision-making and reporting efficiency.
• Translate complex datasets into clear business implications and strategic recommendations, developing tools, reporting solutions, and planning methodologies for broader organizational adoption.
• Contribute to critical operations by analyzing reports, updating stakeholders, and participating in projects for future merchandising plans.
  
  

Required Skills & Experience

• Direct merchandise planning experience.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
• A self-starter with a proactive approach to problem-solving and task management.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, capable of connecting detailed analysis to the broader business picture.
• Proficiency in Excel for advanced data analysis and reporting.
• Comfort operating effectively in ambiguous environments and adapting to evolving priorities.
  
  

Nice-to-Have Skills

• 3-5 years of dedicated experience in a merchandise planning role.
• A degree in a relevant field such as Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or Analytics.
• Familiarity with AI tools for data analysis and forecasting.
• Broader merchandising knowledge extending beyond core planning functions.
• Previous experience within the retail industry.
  
  

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

Client Description

Global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment. Our client focuses on innovation, performance, and marketing, partnering with top athletes and teams. The company emphasizes sustainability and digital advancements to enhance the sports experience.