Manager - Merchandise Planning

J.Crew•New York, NY

7d•$108,800 - $140,400•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Merchandise Planning Manager, you’ll lead the financial and strategic planning for your division — guiding a team in driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity. You’ll partner closely with Merchandising, Allocation, and senior leadership to shape the financial roadmap that informs assortment investments, pricing, and flow strategies. This role requires a strong balance of analytical acumen, strategic thinking, and leadership — someone who can both zoom out to see the big picture and dive into the details to deliver results. You’ll also play a key role in developing talent, fostering collaboration, and evolving planning tools and processes to support financial integrity and growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
8+ years of experience in merchandise planning, financial analysis, or related fields
Proven success leading planning strategy for a division or large department
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills with advanced Excel proficiency
Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing abilities across multiple levels of leadership
Demonstrated experience managing and developing high-performing teams
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with ability to balance strategy and execution

Nice To Haves

Experience in multi-category or multi-channel retail planning
Familiarity with enterprise-level planning tools and financial reporting systems
Proven ability to lead cross-functional business initiatives
Strong understanding of retail KPIs and their impact on profitability and growth

Responsibilities

Lead the creation of sales, margin, and inventory plans by department and division, providing strategic guidance to planners and cross-functional teams
Analyze business performance to identify key drivers, risks, and opportunities that inform future investments
Partner with Merchandising to align financial goals with product strategy and assortment decisions
Present preseason plans and recommendations to senior leadership, clearly articulating assumptions, risks, and growth opportunities
Develop division-level strategies that drive sales, margin, and inventory turn targets
Lead the ongoing analysis of sales, margin, and inventory to identify trends, variances, and emerging risks
Guide the team through in-season forecasting, hindsight, and OTB management, ensuring agility and accuracy in financial decision-making
Collaborate with cross-functional partners to make data-driven adjustments to receipts, pricing, and promotions
Partner with Finance to monitor divisional performance and reforecast based on updated trends and financial goals
Provide actionable insights during hindsight and investment review meetings to inform future product and financial strategies