Merchandise Planner (Fashion)

Overview

Location: Remote (Company HQ is PST. Employees in PST and MT preferred)

Salary: $80K – $90K

Overview:

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for managing the pre-season and in-season sales and inventory plans for a brand. The Merchandise Planner collaborates closely with their Buying partners to develop brand merchandising strategies and open-to-buy plans, allowing for smart buying decisions in the delivery of fast fashion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible to drive the financial success by managing sales, gross margin, and inventory turn goals to meet or exceed financial objectives
• Analyze records of past and present financial data and trends to project future KPI performance, sales and merchandise margins at the monthly, weekly and daily level
• Drive pre-season and in-season strategies by identifying company level opportunities
• Develop promo and pricing strategies that support brand strategies and drive sales and margin performance to meet financial goals 
• Responsible for open-to-buy activities for an entire brand; Manage the reconciliation of bottoms-up plans and tops-down Company Planning forecasts and budget; Present OTB forecasts to the Head of Planning.
• Ensure timely reaction to business trend in-season with appropriate shifts in sales and inventory forecasts and develop action plans to maximize opportunities and mitigate risk 
• Proactively identify business opportunities and communicate cross-functionally to ensure effective execution of plans and course correction when necessary 
• Create and maintain ad hoc reporting tools.
• Develop processes to ensure consistency in use of best practices and deliveries within deadlines 
• Take active role in brand initiatives in optimizing systems and tools to maximize efficiency
• Lead discussions in key milestone meetings including weekly business update, monthly OTBs, and quarterly hindsight meetings 
• Collaborate closely with and build trust among cross functional partners in Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, Site Merchandising to build best practices and execute against brand strategies 

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 
• 4+ years of retail merchandise planning or inventory management experience 
• Demonstrated success at building business partnerships and ability to influence and effectively negotiate with cross functional teams 
• Ability to evaluate business trends and draw actionable conclusions to maximize business opportunities; anticipate risks and develop plans and processes to reduce exposure
• Ability to set priorities and clear objectives that ensure team goals and objectives are met or exceeded 
• Demonstrated success in identifying and communicating opportunities in process improvement
• Ability to organize and present complex ideas 
• Ability to move analysis into action; can leverage learnings to build brand plans and strategies 
• Creative approach to problem solving with a focus on driving sales; demonstrated ability to track performance and measure results 
• Possess exceptional organizational and time management skills 
• Passion for fast fashion retail; possess the agility, attention to detail and sense of urgency required to work in a fast-paced and changing environment 
• Broad based business acumen
• Proficient in retail math
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to work with large sets of data and produce ad hoc reports and tools

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.