Senior Merchandise Planner

The Paper Store•Acton, MA

5d•$110,000 - $121,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Merchandise Planner develops accurate, disciplined sales forecasts and inventory plans to drive inventory turn, protect margin, support category growth, and minimize risk and lost sales. The role maintains forecast integrity through structured planning processes, detailed analysis, and collaboration with Merchandising and Finance. It reports to the Director Planning and is based at the corporate office in Acton, Massachusetts, with onsite work required four days per week. The planner develops sales forecasts, inventory plans, and margin goals; owns department-level Open-to-Buy planning; reconciles bottom-up plans with department and company forecasts; and monitors sales, promotions, and inventory flow. The role identifies inventory, margin, and forecast risks, recommends data-supported actions, monitors receipts and inventory levels, develops replenishment strategies where applicable, and adjusts plans based on item performance, seasonality, and trends. The Senior Merchandise Planner partners with Buyers, GMMs, the Merchant team, Finance, and Sales Development. They lead structured planning reviews, provide fact-based recommendations, prepare hindsight analysis and reporting, and promote consistent planning methods. They also train and develop junior planners and allocators in analytical thinking, forecasting, and plan management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
3–5 years of experience as a Senior Planner or Planning Manager within the retail industry.
Strong analytical skills and financial acumen, with the ability to manage complex data accurately and with discipline.
Advanced Excel skills, including building, maintaining, and analyzing detailed planning models.
Ability to influence cross-functional partners through clear analysis, data-driven insights, and well-supported recommendations.
Ability to work independently within a structured planning framework and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders.
Hands-on approach and willingness to perform detailed analysis and coach or mentor junior team members.
Ability to work onsite at the Corporate Office in Acton, MA four days per week.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain detailed sales forecasts, inventory plans, and margin goals across assigned departments.
Own department-level Open-to-Buy planning and align it with sales forecasts, inventory targets, and financial objectives.
Reconcile bottom-up plans to department and total-company forecasts, validate assumptions, and identify gaps.
Monitor weekly sales performance, promotional activity, and inventory flow to identify risks and opportunities.
Identify inventory, margin, and forecast risks through analysis and recommend data-supported actions.
Monitor inventory levels and receipts to support sales plans while minimizing excess and aged inventory.
Develop replenishment strategies, where applicable, to support consistent flow and improved profitability.
Analyze key item performance, seasonality, and trends, adjusting forecasts, receipts, and inventory levels for complex categories.
Partner with Buyers, GMMs, and the Merchant team to align forecasts with product and customer strategies.
Work with Finance and Sales Development to assess business performance and refine future outlooks.
Lead structured planning reviews and forecasting meetings, with clear agendas, documented assumptions, and follow-up actions.
Provide clear, fact-based insights and recommendations to cross-functional partners.
Prepare hindsight analyses to evaluate performance and optimize future plans.
Create actionable product performance and inventory reporting at appropriate levels of detail.
Promote consistency, accuracy, and rigor in planning methodology across departments.
Train and develop junior planners and allocators on analytical thinking, forecasting methodology, and plan management.
Serve as a reliable planning partner who upholds best practices and protects planning-process integrity.