Associate Planner

Designer Brands Inc.•Columbus, OH

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

As an Associate Planner, you play a key role in shaping how product performs across the business. You’ll turn data into insights that influence real decisions, helping ensure the right product is in the right place at the right time. Working closely with Merchandising and cross-functional partners, you’ll contribute to strategies that balance opportunity and risk while driving results across key items.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years experience in Planning, Allocation, Buying, financial analysis, or a combination of planning and merchant experience
BA or BS in Business, Finance, or related field
Strong financial and analytical skills, including data retrieval, organization, and presentation
Ability to prioritize effectively and adapt to changing demands, with strong time management skills
Clear written and verbal communication skills, particularly when communicating financial concepts
Proficiency in Excel, MicroStrategy, and Enterprise Planning tools
Ability to form a point of view, influence others with data, and recommend strategic actions

Responsibilities

Build and manage weekly sales, markdown, and receipt plans for key items using both historical data and emerging trends
Translate item strategies into actionable financial plans using Enterprise Planning tools and performance metrics
Partner with cross-functional teams to establish pre-season financial targets aligned with the merchant vision
Analyze in-season performance and identify opportunities to maximize sales, optimize in-stock levels, and mitigate risk
Deliver bottoms-up reporting and ad hoc analyses to recap item-level performance
Use hindsight and in-season insights to inform future assortment strategies
Develop clear, solution-oriented recommendations that drive business outcomes
Influence Merchandise Planners by sharing data-driven insights to optimize forecasts
Bring a thoughtful point of view grounded in analysis to support decision-making
Proactively recommend next steps to enable timely, informed actions
Partner with Store Planning and Allocation teams to align inventory plans with store targets
Participate in cross-functional business meetings to ensure alignment with merchandise strategies
Facilitate monthly key item review meetings, sharing insights on performance, risks, and opportunities
Communicate financial concepts clearly and effectively across a variety of audiences