Merchandise Planner, Sleepwear, Cacique

Knitwell Group • New Albany, OH

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

About us Our founder, Lena Bryant didn't set out to change fashion forever, but that's exactly what she did. 120 years later, Lane Bryant remains the iconic plus-size brand. Empowering women is kind of our thing. Our inclusive community of customers and associates champions the acceptance of all sizes, shapes, and people. If you believe in the power of clothes to create confidence and empower self-expression, you'll be at home here. About the role Accountable for the pro-active management running of the business, by channel, pre-season and in-season. Ensuring effective inventory management, in total and across channels, to maximize sales and margin. The impact you can have Development of pre-season/in-season plans: Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level that will achieve financial targets Understanding of marketing calendar and impact to financial architecture Assessment of past seasons and results providing insight to future plan development and recommendations in concert with merchandising partners Identifies and reacts to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and updates plans accordingly Performs analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights Pro-active management of inventory, on order positions and margin results: Manage and evaluate inventory positions, to ensure inventory levels optimize sales and margin and improve inventory productivity, including markdown management. Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies Accountable for managing day-to-day running of the business and meeting deadlines: Provides cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and has the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions Anticipates potential obstacles and works with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans Presents financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business Synthesizes large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making. Continually examines product successes and failures to extract key lessons You’ll bring to the role Minimum of 2-4 years in retail as a merchandise planner. Allocation, financial analyst, or buyer experience a plus in addition to merchandise planning. Customer-centric focus with understanding of customer needs and ability to understand market trends Ability to build strong relationships with a diverse group of cross functional partners, and cascade the proper level of information to support decision making. Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or related field Good systems skills with experience in managing and reporting data in such environments as Excel, Arthur Planning, Data Warehouse, etc. Key skills: Strong analytical ability, financial acumen, business influence and communication, change agility Benefits You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies. Support for your 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. Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role. Hybrid: This position works in a hybrid model, with required days worked in the Lane Bryant office location in New Albany, OH as defined by business needs. 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. #LI-AP1 Location: LB OH Corp Office-LaneBryant-New Albany, OH 43054 Position Type: Regular/Full time Equal Employment Opportunity The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation. KnitWell Group, a specialty retail operating company, comprises some of the most iconic brands in America – Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market. Individually, our brands are unique and strong. Together, we are powerful. Our common thread is our commitment to create exceptional products, provide memorable experiences, and achieve superior results. Our associates are innovators who thrive through collaboration and are dedicated to excellence. At the heart of it all are the customers we serve. We are dedicated to creating fashion that not only looks good but also makes our customers feel good. To reduce potential fraud, we remind all applicants: • It won’t cost you money to apply for a job with us. Our brands will never ask for money – that includes a wire transfer or a credit card. There will be no charge for equipment, background checks or other expenses in submitting a job application with us. • We will never ask for your bank account information as part of the interview process. Your bank account information should only be entered during the onboarding process after you are hired to set up direct deposit of wages. • Interviews will be conducted in-person or through a secure video call, using a teleconference application that uses email addresses only (not telephone numbers). • Watch closely for email addresses with misspelled or “spoofed” company names in communications during the interview process. Examples of suspicious addresses include “[email protected]” instead of “[email protected],” and misspelled company names like “[email protected]” or “[email protected].” • If you do apply to our Brands through an official job board site rather than using our official website (https://www.ascena.com/home/our-careers/work-with-us/), report suspicious communication immediately to the site or platform used to submit your job application (such as an official job board site). • If you have any questions or are not sure if you’ve applied to our Brands, please reach out to [email protected] to confirm. • If you believe you may be a victim of a scam, please contact your local law enforcement.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2-4 years in retail as a merchandise planner.
• Allocation, financial analyst, or buyer experience a plus in addition to merchandise planning.
• Customer-centric focus with understanding of customer needs and ability to understand market trends
• Ability to build strong relationships with a diverse group of cross functional partners, and cascade the proper level of information to support decision making.
• Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or related field
• Good systems skills with experience in managing and reporting data in such environments as Excel, Arthur Planning, Data Warehouse, etc.
• Key skills: Strong analytical ability, financial acumen, business influence and communication, change agility

Responsibilities

• Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level that will achieve financial targets
• Understanding of marketing calendar and impact to financial architecture
• Assessment of past seasons and results providing insight to future plan development and recommendations in concert with merchandising partners
• Identifies and reacts to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and updates plans accordingly
• Performs analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights
• Manage and evaluate inventory positions, to ensure inventory levels optimize sales and margin and improve inventory productivity, including markdown management.
• Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies
• Provides cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and has the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions
• Anticipates potential obstacles and works with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans
• Presents financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business
• Synthesizes large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making.
• Continually examines product successes and failures to extract key lessons

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees