Retail Planner, Senior

SeaWorld•Orlando, FL

19d

About The Position

As a Senior Retail Planner, you will strategize, plan, forecast, and analyze annual sales across all product divisions. The role focuses on maintaining optimal inventory levels, maximizing inventory turns, and achieving gross margin targets through effective inventory management. You will identify opportunities to increase sales, improve profitability, and optimize inventory while collaborating with business leaders, Product Development, and Park Product Activation Managers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in merchandise planning, allocation, or product development/buying within Theme Parks, Specialty Retail, High-Profile Retail Organizations, or the Consumer Products industry.
Expertise in demand planning methodologies and forecasting models.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Strong analytical ability to assess data and drive pricing strategies that maximize gross margins.
Ability to think critically and strategically when evaluating and optimizing inventory management decisions.
Strong problem-solving skills in a fast-paced retail environment.
Ability to influence key stakeholders and align cross-functional teams toward shared business goals.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey insights and recommendations effectively.
Ability to develop and present data-driven content to multiple levels of the organization.
Strong leadership skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across teams.
Ability to multitask and adapt to changing business needs.
Demonstrated negotiation experience within a large corporate environment.
Dependability, initiative, and independence in executing tasks and projects.
Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute merchandise assortment plans, financial forecasts, and inventory strategies with park teams and retail merchants.
Manage sales, inventory turns, gross margin, and receipt-flow planning by department and class to meet financial objectives.
Partner with Product Development and Parks teams to determine order quantities by style, size, and color, aligned with open-to-buy plans and markdown strategies.
Oversee inventory management and open-to-buy processes to optimize stock levels and sales performance.
Prepare for and participate in Merchandise Review Meetings, providing data-driven insights and recommendations.
Analyze historical sales data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities and develop strategies to increase revenue and improve margin performance.
Develop SKU lifecycle strategies, manage slow-moving inventory, and implement exit plans with Product Development and Parks teams.
Maintain and adjust line plans based on real-time business trends and ensure contingency plans are in place to drive sales and profit objectives.
Establish SKU targets and in-stock ratios to maintain optimal product availability across divisions.
Create and distribute key inventory reports to internal stakeholders, ensuring information is consistent and accurate.
Support product pricing strategies through data-driven risk/benefit analysis.
Perform other duties as assigned.