Sr. Merchandise Planner

Five Below•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Sr. Merchandise Planner develops merchandise financial, assortment, demand, and inventory plans to support sales and margin targets. The role manages open-to-buy budgets for a category of business valued at $50–150M, monitors inventory and receipts, and manages markdown and end-of-life activity. The planner analyzes business performance, communicates recommendations to Buyers and senior management, aligns with merchandising and allocation partners, and supports the training and development of an Associate Planner.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in a retail or wholesale environment, including experience as a planner.
Bachelor’s degree.
Demonstrated retail math and business acumen, including margin planning, sales forecasting, and inventory productivity measures.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and compellingly.
Peer leadership ability, including building alignment among cross-functional stakeholders through strong business cases and driving execution.
Attention to detail and strong time-management, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Advanced proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of PowerBI, Microstrategy, 09 MFP, and Oracle RMS.

Responsibilities

Develop seasonal sales, inventory, and margin plans by Department-Classification and store groups using corporate financial targets.
Set style-color and depth targets by attribute and store group to support product selection in market.
Manage SKU- and style-intensive categories and location-intensive assortments.
Develop sales forecasts and buy quantity estimates, considering lead times, seasonality, and turn targets to optimize inventory levels.
Manage the category open-to-buy (OTB) budget of $50–150M, adjusting as needed to support sales and margin plans.
Manage inventory levels and receipts, monitoring in-season performance to minimize stockouts and overstocks.
Manage markdown and MOS budgets to balance inventory ownership and margin objectives.
Work with key partners to identify pricing and liquidation opportunities during product transitions.
Analyze sales performance and recommend pricing adjustments, promotions, and markdowns to optimize profitability.
Analyze sales, inventory, and margin performance to evaluate merchandising strategies and identify areas for improvement; provide Buyers with recommendations to optimize assortment and inventory levels.
Use weekly business insights to assess item-level performance, maximize in-season opportunities, minimize liability, and inform future seasons.
Generate reports and analysis on sales, inventory, and profitability for senior management.
Test multiple business strategies, quantify and communicate business impacts, and report results clearly to executive management.
Align with peers on merchandising and allocation teams regarding forecast changes and inventory strategies.
Participate in meetings and strategic discussions, contributing to merchandise planning strategies.
Develop an Associate Planner through training, career development opportunities, and talent-retention efforts.