Merchandise Planning Specialist

Columbia Sportswear Company • Portland, OR

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Merchandise Planning Specialist supports the financial and inventory planning needs of our Full Price DTC businesses across Branded, Employee & Ecommerce channels. This role is designed for an early‑career planner who is analytical, detail‑oriented, and eager to learn the fundamentals of merchandise planning. In the first 6–9 months, this position focuses on supporting tools, templates, reporting, and ad‑hoc analysis across the entire full price DTC planning team. Over time, and with proven capability, this Specialist will be assigned a specific category to learn end‑to‑end planning and OTB management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Analytics or a related field (or relevant experience).
• 1–3 years of experience in merchandise planning, allocation, buying support, demand planning, or similar analytical retail roles.
• Strong proficiency in Excel, including formulas, Pivot Tables, and data manipulation.
• Experience with analytical/reporting tools; Power BI experience preferred
• Solid understanding of retail math concepts (or ability to learn quickly).
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and enhance planning tools, templates, and standardized reporting that support weekly, monthly, and seasonal business reviews.
• Support the creation and maintenance of in‑season forecasts and OTB tracking for planners and leadership.
• Partner with Planners, Buyers and Allocators across the DTC businesses by providing clear, accurate data to inform decisions on buys, replenishment, and inventory flow.
• Contribute to process improvements that streamline reporting, enhance forecast accuracy, or strengthen inventory visibility.
• Learn planning systems (e.g., Blue Yonder or similar tools) and develop expertise in retail math and forecasting methodologies.

Benefits

• Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match.
• Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).
• In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services.
• We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level