Senior Merchandise Planner

Coldwater Creek - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Full-time - Senior

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Repair and Maintenance

About the position

The Senior Merchandise Planner plays a crucial role in the planning department, supporting various analysis functions, assisting in purchase order placements, and providing weekly reporting support. This position requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and extensive experience in inventory and assortment planning, working closely with multiple departments to drive sales and optimize inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Forecast department inventory needs and create precise purchase orders for vendors.
• Prepare insights and actions for Seasonal Budgets, Catalog Demand Plans, Initial Buys, Open-To-Buy, and Hindsight Reviews.
• Review weekly backorder and out of stock reports to determine necessary purchase order adjustments.
• Monitor weekly inbound purchase order reporting to ensure timely arrival of goods.
• Maintain adequate stock levels for all size ranges offered.
• Analyze stock to sales ratios and respond to changing sales trends to meet targets.
• Lead merchandise planning initiatives and develop strategic plans in coordination with stakeholders.
• Conduct semi-annual reviews and maintenance of inventory classifications.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and report on core KPIs for inventory performance.
• Propose and implement solutions to improve key metrics.
• Communicate over/under-bought situations and provide recommendations for resolution.
• Partner with merchandising team to identify assortment opportunities and recommend repeat styles or color expansions.
• Develop seasonal and event exclusive style count plans.
• Facilitate post-season performance reviews and collaborate with leadership on future strategies.
• Review inventory adjustments and conduct monthly reconciliations for data accuracy.
• Monitor and report bi-weekly on 'on hold' Warehouse Inventory.
• Challenge the status quo and propose new ideas to drive sales.
• Perform other tasks, duties, and projects as assigned.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree in Business, Statistics, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in Supply, Demand, or Inventory planning and execution.
• Advanced analytical, project management, and leadership skills.
• Strong understanding of industry trends and best practices.
• Direct experience working with Forecast 21.
• Experience managing 40,000+ SKUs in a direct-to-consumer e-commerce environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Supervise planners and take on a mentorship role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, fluent in English.
• Advanced level knowledge of Excel and the entire suite of Microsoft Office applications.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a hybrid work environment.
• Strong collaborative communication skills.
• Ability to deliver engaging presentations to diverse audiences.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401k plan
• Paid time off
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional development opportunities