Planner, Dresses

Lane Bryant • Columbus, OH

297d

About The Position

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 includes the 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. You will identify and react to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and update plans accordingly. Perform 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: Provide cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and have the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions. Anticipate potential obstacles and work with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans. Present financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business. Synthesize large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making. Continually examine product successes and failures to extract key lessons.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2-4 years in retail as a merchandise planner, allocation, financial analyst, or buyer.
• Customer-centric focus with understanding of customer needs and market trends.
• Ability to build strong relationships with cross-functional partners.
• Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or related field.
• Good systems skills with experience in managing and reporting data.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in merchandise planning.
• Strong analytical ability.
• Financial acumen.
• Business influence and communication skills.
• Change agility.

Responsibilities

• Development of pre-season/in-season plans.
• Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level.
• Understanding of marketing calendar and its impact on financial architecture.
• Assessment of past seasons and results to provide insights for future plans.
• Identify and react to opportunities to increase sales and improve margin.
• Perform analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights.
• Manage and evaluate inventory positions to optimize sales and margin.
• Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies.
• Provide cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks.
• Anticipate potential obstacles and establish contingency plans.
• Present financial information clearly to support business needs.
• Synthesize large data sets into major points for decision-making.
• Examine product successes and failures to extract key lessons.

Benefits

• 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant & Talbots.
• Support for individual development and career mobility.
• Local volunteer opportunities and philanthropic activities.
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K) retirement.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid time off & holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree