Merchandise Planner

Vera Bradley•Roanoke, IN

2d•$58,100 - $87,100

About The Position

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for the analysis and identification of business risks and opportunities to maximize sales, profitability, and inventory turnover objectives. This includes creating plans and forecasts for sales and gross margin by channel/department/classification as well as forecasting activities for style/colors associated with channels and products. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Note: Other duties may be assigned) To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Develop and maintain merchandise financial plans and forecasts by channel/department/class and establish inventory targets and strategies, translating the merchandise strategy and vision into actionable plans with profitable results. Ensure merchandise plans reconcile to company fiscal targets. Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities. Recap and analyze actual sales results to plan; forecast in-season sales and inventory on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. Reconcile merchandise plans with the style/color SKU plans. Accurately assess financial risk associated with unproductive inventory and closeouts. Perform in-season discounting analysis to support exit strategies and related timing and execution with gross margin implications. Review and recommend items for markdown. Work with Merchandising to establish initial markup targets that reconcile to gross margin plans. Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with members of all cross-functional areas (Merchandising, Sales, Store Operations, E-Commerce, Marketing, Finance, Retail Allocation and Inventory Planning) to ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts. Develop and propose tactics in response to current business trends. Prepare hindsight analysis to identify opportunities for future plans and strategies. Analyze promotional effectiveness and make recommendations to guide future decisions. Deep dive into style/color plans by channel and/or sub-channel; identify opportunities to drive style and material performance to increase top-line sales while mitigating bottom line risk Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data and evaluate forecast results Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine forecasts to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions Use JDA Planning software to maintain merchandise class and SKU forecasts Provide input to the Inventory Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, retail management, marketing or related field, or equivalent experience required
2+ years of experience in planning or forecasting field, or equivalent experience required
Excellent PC skills utilizing Microsoft Office applications, advanced Excel skills a plus
Detail oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Exceptional organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, and concurrently manage multiple projects.
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills with the proven ability to communicate with all levels across the organization
Strong team player with the ability to build and maintain good rapport with both internal and external customers handling situations with confidence, tact and resourcefulness.
Maintains a positive demeanor, is collaborative, and is able to influence and persuade.
Ability to work and make decisions independently or with little supervision
Ability to solve complex problems, analyze solutions and take a new perspective on existing solutions
Ability to apply best practices and industry knowledge to improve products or processes
High level of analytical thinking and attention to detail with strong aptitude in retail math and forecasting methodology
Understands the key business drivers and uses this knowledge in own work

Nice To Haves

Impact Analytics systems experience a strong plus
Omni channel experience strongly preferred
Experience in both cost and retail methods of accounting a strong plus

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain merchandise financial plans and forecasts by channel/department/class and establish inventory targets and strategies, translating the merchandise strategy and vision into actionable plans with profitable results.
Ensure merchandise plans reconcile to company fiscal targets.
Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities.
Recap and analyze actual sales results to plan; forecast in-season sales and inventory on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
Reconcile merchandise plans with the style/color SKU plans.
Accurately assess financial risk associated with unproductive inventory and closeouts.
Perform in-season discounting analysis to support exit strategies and related timing and execution with gross margin implications.
Review and recommend items for markdown.
Work with Merchandising to establish initial markup targets that reconcile to gross margin plans.
Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with members of all cross-functional areas (Merchandising, Sales, Store Operations, E-Commerce, Marketing, Finance, Retail Allocation and Inventory Planning) to ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
Develop and propose tactics in response to current business trends.
Prepare hindsight analysis to identify opportunities for future plans and strategies.
Analyze promotional effectiveness and make recommendations to guide future decisions.
Deep dive into style/color plans by channel and/or sub-channel; identify opportunities to drive style and material performance to increase top-line sales while mitigating bottom line risk
Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data and evaluate forecast results
Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine forecasts to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions
Use JDA Planning software to maintain merchandise class and SKU forecasts
Provide input to the Inventory Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs

Benefits

Health Benefits VRA offers a variety of medical, dental and vision programs to meet your family’s health care needs.
Medical plan options including both a HDHP/HSA plan and a PPO plan
Dental
Vision
Flexible spending accounts
Survivor Benefits Life insurance provides peace of mind for your family should the unexpected happen.
Employer provided 2X your salary in life insurance
Accidental Death and Disability insurance
Voluntary life insurance for you, your spouse and your children
Income Protection If you are unable to work due to illness or injury VRA provides several programs to protect your income at no cost to you.
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Paid family medical leave
Retirement Plan The VRA 401k plan helps you accumulate savings for retirement
401k with generous company match, immediate vesting (age and service requirement)
Strong line up of professionally managed funds
Safe-harbor plan design
Paid Time Off Enjoy generous time off programs.
Earn up to 3 weeks of paid time off in your first year of employment with opportunity to earn more
9 paid holidays a year
Paid bereavement leave
Give Back Opportunities VRA offers the opportunity to serve your community.
Voluntary Time Off
Holistic Wellness Access to a variety of financial, physical, and mental wellness experts
Employee Assistance Program with access to work/life wellness support including no cost unlimited telephonic counseling services
Opportunities for leadership development, skill development and career advancement
Product Discount Generous employee discount on Vera Bradley products
Ancillary Benefits and Programs Bonus opportunity, identity protection, legal services, pet insurance, cell phone discount, employee referral bonus, annual birthday gift, DailyPay, corporate fitness facility and individual policies through Aflac