Vice President Merchandise Planning

Lands' End•Dodgeville, WI

About The Position

The Vice President Merchandise Planning leads the team responsible for merchandise planning, forecasting, and inventory management. The role develops and executes inventory plans aligned with company strategy and objectives, with the goal of optimizing sales, margin, and inventory turnover while meeting customer demand and maximizing profitability. The position also drives improvements in planning processes, systems, and operational methodologies. The Vice President oversees strategic inventory planning, sales and margin optimization, demand forecasting, inventory management, and planning-process transformation. The role leads a Planning & Inventory team of 30 or more employees, develops team members, and collaborates with Merchandising, Marketing, Sourcing, Finance, Operations, and senior leadership. It uses performance analysis and reporting to monitor sales, margin, and inventory KPIs and recommend corrective actions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
10 or more years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or a related field, with a track record of success in a senior leadership role.
Proven expertise leading demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization aligned with financial objectives, market trends, and customer demand.
Experience leading large-scale transformations in planning processes, tools, and systems.
Strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of data analysis and reporting to drive decisions.
Experience leading an omnichannel business that includes wholesale, ecommerce, and direct-to-consumer channels.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and influence stakeholders at various levels.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize teams and tasks and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive problem-solving skills and a focus on continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
Experience leading large teams and providing guidance, mentorship, and career development.
Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within an SAP environment, including exposure to SAP implementations or transformations.

Responsibilities

Develop and oversee merchandise inventory plans and strategies that support company goals, market trends, and customer demand.
Align inventory planning with cross-functional partners, including Merchandising, Marketing, and Operations.
Balance inventory levels to optimize sales, profitability, competitive margins, and sell-through rates.
Oversee forecasting and demand planning to support accurate, timely inventory allocation and minimize stockouts and overstock.
Implement inventory management practices that support industry-aligned turnover and maintain quality stock levels across channels.
Transform planning processes and capabilities, including improving forecasting methodologies, systems, and planning tools.
Build and lead a high-performing Planning & Inventory team, fostering continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration.
Collaborate with Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to align execution and support company-wide initiatives and best practices.
Leverage and implement planning tools, systems, and technology to improve planning efficiency.
Analyze and report on sales, margin, and inventory KPIs; provide senior leadership with updates, insights, and corrective-action recommendations.
Lead and manage a team of 30 or more employees, providing guidance, support, mentorship, and career development.
Set team performance expectations and goals, conduct performance evaluations, and provide constructive feedback.
Address performance issues through coaching and, when necessary, disciplinary actions.
Participate in recruiting and onboarding team members as needed.
Identify team training needs, coordinate development programs, and encourage continuous learning and skill development.
Serve as a liaison between upper management and the team, communicating organizational goals and expectations.
Address team conflicts or issues promptly and effectively.
Manage team resources, workload distribution, and project assignments to make effective use of team members' skills.
Collaborate with upper management to establish team goals aligned with organizational objectives and contribute to department strategies.