Merchandise Planning Manager
About The Position
The Merchandise Planning Manager leads a team of Planners and Associate Planners to develop and execute merchandise strategies that deliver sales, margin, and inventory productivity goals for International owned markets. This role serves as the bridge between strategy and execution, translating Alo’s vision into actionable merchandise and financial plans. As a leader, the Manager is expected to demonstrate advanced problem-solving, decision-making, and cross-functional influence. They will not only oversee day-to-day planning but also mentor their team, champion process improvements, and ensure alignment with company-wide and market specific objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Business, or a related field.
- 5–7 years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or retail financial planning (apparel/fashion industry preferred).
- Proven leadership experience managing and developing planning teams.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to synthesize data into insights.
- Advanced Excel skills; familiarity with planning systems (e.g., Anaplan, SAP, JDA, Oracle).
- Excellent communication, influencing, and cross-functional partnership skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Nice To Haves
- International experience a plus
- Experience managing across multiple channels (retail, e-commerce, wholesale).
- Proven success in fast-paced, trend-driven retail environments.
- Strong background in apparel, footwear, or accessories.
Responsibilities
- Manage and develop a team of Merchandise Planners and Associate Planners.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development aligned with Alo’s core competencies.
- Foster collaboration and empower the team to problem-solve and take ownership of results.
- Own seasonal and annual merchandise financial planning, including OTB strategies and regional rollups for owned international markets (Europe / APAC).
- Translate business goals into detailed inventory, assortment, and sales plans across channels (Web & Stores).
- Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure alignment of financial targets with buying and merchandising strategies.
- Track and analyze sales, margin, and inventory KPIs to identify risks/opportunities.
- Recommend proactive actions (reorders, warehouse transfers) to maximize business results.
- Guide the allocation strategy to optimize product flow by channel and location.
- Partner with International Merchandising, Buying, Allocation, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure cohesive execution.
- Contribute to business reviews and presentations for senior leadership.
- Influence assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies with data-driven insights.
- Lead enhancements in planning tools, reporting, and processes to increase accuracy and efficiency.
- Champion best practices in merchandise and financial planning.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
