Merchandise Planner

Job Title: Retail Merchandise Planner

Location: Philadelphia with 3 days a week in office, 2 remote

Department: Merchandising / Planning

Reports To: Director of Merchandising or Planning Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Retail Merchandise Planner is responsible for developing, executing, and managing strategic merchandise plans to drive profitable sales, optimize inventory, and achieve company financial objectives. This individual will partner closely with Merchandising, Buying, and Allocation teams to ensure the right product, quantity, and timing are aligned across multiple categories—including seasonal assortments. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in Open-to-Buy (OTB) management, assortment planning, and data-driven decision making in a dynamic retail environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage top-down and bottom-up merchandise financial plans across multiple categories, including core and seasonal businesses.
• Own and manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process—forecasting, reviewing, and adjusting plans to align with sales trends, inventory productivity, and margin goals.
• Partner with Buyers and Merchants to build balanced assortments that reflect customer needs, market trends, and business strategies.
• Analyze sales, inventory, and margin performance to identify risks and opportunities; provide actionable insights and recommendations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners in Merchandising, Allocation, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment between planning strategies and inventory execution.
• Support in-season management through sales and inventory reforecasts, markdown recommendations, and promotional planning.
• Evaluate historical performance, customer insights, and trend data to inform pre-season planning and future assortment strategies.
• Present plan recaps, in-season performance updates, and OTB reviews to leadership.
• Manage inventory flow and ensure optimal stock levels to maximize sales while minimizing overstock and markdown liability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Merchandising, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in retail merchandise planning or inventory management, preferably across multiple product categories.
• Demonstrated experience with seasonal planning and Open-to-Buy (OTB) management.
• Strong analytical, financial modeling, and forecasting skills; proficiency in Excel and planning systems (e.g., Aptos, Oracle, JDA, or similar).
• Ability to synthesize data into actionable strategies and communicate insights effectively across teams.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Team-oriented with strong collaboration and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in both brick-and-mortar and eCommerce retail environments.
• Working knowledge of assortment planning tools and inventory optimization systems.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with an executive audience.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and performance-based bonus potential.
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off).
• Opportunities for career development and growth within a dynamic retail organization.