Manager of Merchandise & Assortment Planning
Overview: The Manager of Assortment Planning is responsible for managing a specific division (within Consumables or Discretionary) and leading a team of Assortment Planners. The role involves translating business strategies into tactical assortment plans and driving performance across the division, ensuring that key financial metrics are achieved.
Key Responsibilities:
- Division Management: Own the assortment planning strategy and execution for a specific division, working closely with Merchandising, Finance, and Inventory teams.
- Team Leadership: Manage a team of Senior Assortment Planners and Assortment Planners, ensuring effective execution of assortment planning processes and goals.
- Strategic Execution: Translate high-level business strategies into detailed assortment plans that align with division objectives and consumer needs.
- Process Improvement: Continuously refine assortment planning processes to increase efficiency, reduce manual effort, and drive better decision-making.
- Technology Integration: Partner with internal teams to ensure the effective use of assortment planning tools, driving alignment between Anaplan and PowerBI dashboards for optimal reporting and decision support.
- Performance Accountability: Track and monitor division-level KPIs, ensuring assortment plans are delivering on sales, margin, and inventory productivity goals.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, Analytics, or related field.
- 5-7 years of experience in Assortment Planning, Merchandising, Merchandise Planning or related roles.
- 3+ years of experience managing teams or projects in a retail or merchandising environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using planning tools.