Merchandise Planner - Swim (Remote)

Lands' End•Dodgeville, WI

4d•Remote

About The Position

The Merchandise Planner for Swim is responsible for generating and managing Lands’ End product forecasts and managing inventory. The role regularly interacts with merchandising, sourcing, and sales teams to manage strategic financial plans by category and client. It analyzes historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise and assortment planning, identifies category risks and opportunities, conducts in-season performance tracking and analysis, and manages processes to meet inventory risk and fulfillment goals. The planner develops and communicates strategic merchandise financial plans that support division and category objectives, collaborates with internal sales teams and external clients on seasonal sale plans, and is accountable for delivering financial metrics within client contracts. The role develops monthly sales, margin, and inventory forecasts and strategies to meet category financial goals; communicates results and action plans to directors and cross-functional teams weekly; provides markdown analysis and recommendations throughout the product lifecycle; and manages key business milestones. The position is eligible to be remote, but employees residing within 60 miles of Lands’ End’s Dodgeville, Wisconsin, or New York City office are expected to collaborate onsite in a hybrid fashion for up to 12 days per month. Client reviews may require travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as economics, finance, or marketing, or equivalent work experience.
At least 5 years of experience in inventory management or a related position.
Solid understanding of common planning and forecasting processes and procedures.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and other PC-based applications.
Strong relationship-building, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Develop, execute, and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support division and category merchandising, marketing, and financial objectives.
Support company and brand objectives to maximize sales, margin, and inventory.
Prioritize and manage expectations for key deliverables with cross-functional team members, direct reports, and peers.
Collaborate with internal sales teams and external clients to build and execute seasonal sale plans.
Compile and present client reviews of sales and inventory ownership as needed; travel may be required.
Deliver financial metrics specified in client contracts, such as first-time fulfillment and aged inventory levels.
Analyze historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise and assortment planning.
Reconcile top-down and bottom-up plans and appearance plans.
Develop monthly sales, margin, and inventory forecasts and strategies to meet category financial goals (OTB).
Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to the director and cross-functional team weekly, identifying risks and opportunities.
Conduct in-season performance tracking, reporting, and analysis.
Provide markdown analysis and recommendations through the product lifecycle.
Manage key milestones, including business reviews and book close.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives, collaborating with peers to ensure consistent information, share best practices, and develop tools and systems knowledge.