Sr Manager Merchandise Planning – Fitness/Team Sports

Academy Sports + Outdoors•Katy, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Academy Sports + Outdoors is seeking a Sr. Manager of Merchandise Planning for the Fitness/Team Sports category. This role is responsible for leading the planning strategy, ensuring inventory health throughout the product lifecycle, and building financial and assortment plans to meet sales, profit, and inventory goals. The position involves analyzing performance, optimizing KPIs, and improving planning decisions. The Sr. Manager will guide planners through Open-to-Buy reviews, line-review cycles, and forecasting discussions, while collaborating cross-functionally to ensure the right product reaches the right customer at the right time. A strong focus on data, operational consistency, and cross-team communication is essential for long-term success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Retail Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or a related field required
5+ years of experience in merchandise planning within multi-store or multi-channel retail required
2+ years of people-leadership experience
Strong analytical, quantitative, and technical skills
Proficiency in SAS merchandise planning systems
Strong communication and networking abilities across departments
Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced and frequently changing environment
Ability to solve complex planning and inventory challenges
A team-first attitude
Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
Ability to adhere to company policies and professional standards

Responsibilities

Lead the planning strategy for a merchandise category, ensuring inventory health across the full product lifecycle.
Build financial and assortment plans that support sales, profit, and inventory goals while improving in-stock reliability and product flow.
Analyze performance, optimize KPIs, and improve how planning decisions drive business outcomes.
Guide planners through Open-to-Buy reviews, line-review cycles, and forecasting discussions.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Division Merchandise Managers, Allocation, Merchandising, Logistics, Store Operations, and Finance to align financial plans and inventory strategies.
Lead a team of Merchandise Planners, coaching, supporting, and developing them.
Ensure planning practices remain consistent, accurate, and forward-looking across the organization.
Lead Open-to-Buy processes and financial planning cycles.
Manage inventory productivity metrics such as turns, instock, aging, and network balance.
Communicate performance insights and planning decisions across teams.