Senior Merchandise Planner

Columbia Sportswear Company • Portland, OR

2d

About The Position

As a Senior Merchandise Planner for North America, you will drive financial results that maximize sales, inventory productivity, and profitability across key areas of the Full Price DTC business. You will partner with leadership to develop, execute, and communicate merchandise financial plans and strategies that support overall merchandising, marketing, and financial objectives.

Requirements

• Analytical and numbers oriented, have a vision of how merchandise should be presented, and understand consumer trends.
• A strategic thinker, strong communicator, and data-driven storyteller.
• 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.
• 5-7 years’ experience in retail merchandise planning, demand planning, buying or allocation.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a wholesale apparel organization is preferred.
• Experience with Blue Yonder or similar planning/forecasting tools is strongly 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.
• 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 enhance processes to support forecasting, replenishment, and allocation activities.
• Present sales and inventory strategies for assigned categories, including weekly in-season performance updates and insights, to cross-functional business partners.
• Optional potential for minimal travel.

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: Senior