Inventory Planner

Williams-Sonoma•New York, NY

3h•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Born in Brooklyn, West Elm has been helping customers express their personal style at home since the launch of our first catalog in 2002. Our home base is nestled down under the Manhattan Bridge in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, right above our flagship store. We are a dynamic, fast-paced brand with an exciting growth strategy. We value imagination, diversity and giving people the opportunity to explore, grow and shape our future. We look for innovative, smart and hard-working individuals who enjoy creative thinking and ingenuity. Help us carry out our mission of being a source of inspiration to our customers, creating a global community and tirelessly seeking ways to evolve our brand. The Planning organization is responsible for the strategic planning of inventory positions to drive sales, manage inventory turn, and deliver profit objectives. Inventory leaders are innovators, optimizers and problem solvers who are constantly seeking opportunities to move the business forward. We seek a candidate who loves using data to tell the story and a team player who goes above and beyond. The successful candidate will be curious, motivated and will think outside the box, challenging the status quo. This role requires being onsite in our Brooklyn office Monday through Thursday, and remote option on Friday.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of experience in inventory management in retail
Strong business acumen, financial analysis, and technical skills
Experience with open-to-buy forecasting
Ability to work in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment
Superior written, communication, presentation, and listening skills

Responsibilities

Plan and manage a department through the entire product life cycle:
Partner with Merchants to create pre-season, item-level sales plans that align with the product rankings, merchandising strategies, and tops-down financial goals
Present plans at investment review
Manage monthly open to buy forecasts to drive sales and margin
Manage inventory levels and turn targets
Forecast and review buys and replenishment by SKU to maintain optimal inventory flow
Utilize planning software to forecast sales and manage replenishment
Partner with the Inventory Distribution team to develop allocation strategies and with E-commerce team on site merchandising opportunities
Identify potential inventory liabilities and take action to maintain inventory targets
Determine item level order quantities and flow strategies and partner with the Supply Chain Coordinator to ensure timely and accurate execution of purchase orders
Determine markdown and end-of-life disposition strategy for non-go forward product
Build a relationship with Merchant counterparts and partner to develop financial merchandise plans by department
Identify opportunities to drive the top line
The ability to analyze the business day to day through reading and reacting to trends, and communicate actions to take
Develop and provide appropriate business analysis to influence purchases and assortment strategies
Be an integral partner with Visual, Store Operations, Sourcing, and the Distributions Centers
Act like an owner, being the expert on everything relating to the sales, inventory and margin of your department

Benefits

A generous discount on all WSI brands
A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
Tax-free commuter benefits
A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health
In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
Resources for self-development
Advisor (Mentor) program
Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series