Director, Merchandise Planning - Ann Taylor Factory
About The Position
The Director, Merchandise Planning builds an enterprise strategy to define functional priorities and lead transformational process improvements that elevate organizational impact, scalability, and efficiency across merchandise planning. This leader proactively identifies business gaps, advances capabilities, and modernizes planning practices to enable highly accurate, forward-looking, and data-driven decision-making. They serve as a strategic partner to cross-functional leaders, shaping brand direction through deep financial insight, scenario planning, and actionable recommendations. Reporting to the SVP of Planning, this role translates enterprise financial objectives into cohesive, actionable merchandise plans across divisions and categories, driving sales, gross margin, receipts, and inventory strategies. The Director ensures strong alignment between financial goals and merchandise strategies, while elevating forecast accuracy, long-range planning, and overall business performance. With a broad enterprise lens, this leader plays a critical role in influencing strategic decision-making, optimizing planning effectiveness, and driving sustained, profitable growth across the organization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
- 8–12 years of relevant experience in retail planning or a related field.
- 4–6 years of people leadership experience.
- Strong financial and business acumen with a proven track record of delivering results.
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency and strong knowledge of AI Planning software such as S5; JDA experience a plus.
- Experience leveraging AI to optimize location and allocation strategies and drive data-informed decision-making.
- Proven ability to lead teams, influence decisions, and achieve financial targets.
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through change and manage ambiguity.
- Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position.
Nice To Haves
- advanced degree a plus
- JDA experience a plus
Responsibilities
- Lead pre-season planning strategy development, consolidating insights to identify risks and opportunities across departments.
- Monitor and analyze weekly sales performance, identifying variances to plan and driving actionable insights.
- Own the OTB process, leading monthly reviews, managing departmental budgets, and recommending receipt flow and markdown actions in partnership with cross-functional teams.
- Drive in-season profitability, adjusting plans to achieve or exceed financial targets.
- Recommend forward-looking receipt strategies, capitalizing on growth opportunities and mitigating risks.
- Balance strategic forecasting with day-to-day execution, ensuring plans translate into strong operational performance.
- Communicate planning strategies and insights to senior leadership to inform key decisions.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize financial outcomes at the division and enterprise level.
- Lead, develop, and retain talent, providing coaching and mentorship to drive individual and team performance.
Benefits
- Merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
- Support for individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
- A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.
- Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Time off – paid time off & holidays.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
