Principal Merchandise Planner

Columbia Sportswear Company • Portland, OR

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Columbia Sportswear’s dynamic global supply chain consists of 4 distribution centers, 430 retail stores, 80 apparel factories and 20 footwear factories worldwide. We pride ourselves on being able to get products to market quickly, safely, and in the most cost-effective manner. By leveraging data analytics, we are constantly pushing to make smarter business decisions and identifying innovative ways to make Columbia Sportswear’s supply chain more efficient and effective to meet our consumers’ ever-changing needs. As the Principal Merchandise Planner for North America, you will focus on driving financial results that maximize sales, inventory, and profitability at the style level up to the department total and categories for branded and employee store channels in the U.S. and Canada. This position partners with management to develop, execute and communicate merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising, marketing, and financial objectives for the branded business.

Requirements

• Analytical and numbers oriented, have a vision of how merchandise should be presented, and understand consumer trends.
• A strategic thinker and influential communicator who leads through expertise, collaboration, and data-driven storytelling.
• Able to navigate ambiguity and guide teams toward aligned decisions.
• A trusted advisor who sets direction and raises the bar for planning excellence.
• Strong in understanding retail math including intricacies of open to buy, inventory turnover and gross margin.
• Familiar with merchandise management systems and retail planning/forecasting software.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising or related field.
• 7+ years’ experience in retail merchandise planning, demand planning, buying or allocation.
• Experience in style forecasting methodologies and/or tools.
• Experience working in a merchant organization as a planner, buyer, or equivalent position.
• Prior retail planning experience and strong organizational and influencing skills required.
• PC proficient skills with advanced knowledge of Excel including writing formulas, VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, and If Statements.
• Project Management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in Blue Yonder Enterprise Planning (or similar OTB software system) and/or Blue Yonder Demand/Fulfillment (or similar statistical demand forecast system) preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a wholesale apparel organization is preferred.
• Project Management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in Blue Yonder Enterprise Planning (or similar OTB software system) and/or Blue Yonder Demand/Fulfillment (or similar statistical demand forecast system) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with DTC Buyers to develop and communicate a comprehensive strategy that aligns future financial and product opportunities.
• Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities by department and class for future seasons.
• Recap and analyze actual sales results to plan and forecast in-season business on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
• Own Style Forecasting process for assigned categories; collaborate with DTC Merch team to build styles forecasts using Blue Yonder Forecasting tool based on assortment.
• Responsible for the open-to-buy process and forecasts, take action to react to recent business and inventory needs.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives to develop processes and systems to support the forecasting, replenishment, and allocation activities necessary to support the business.
• Take part in Quarterly Budget Review, and communicate the retail reforecast with other Columbia Business Units.
• Work with cross-functional teams on marketing strategies, site ops directives, etc. as they relate to KPI plans.
• Present sales and inventory strategies for assigned categories, including weekly in-season performance updates and insights, to cross-functional business partners.

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: Mid Level