Location:

Secaucus, New Jersey

Job Summary:

The Sr Director, Merchandise Planning will be responsible for developing, executing, and communicating strategic merchandise financial plans that support the company’s financial, product, and marketing objectives. This position will drive the top line financial plans from a divisional level to a department/category level. This position will strategically manage the business in order to maximize sales and margins and optimize inventory.

Responsibilities:

Key Accountabilities:

• Create strategic financial plans that support the company’s objectives and brand goals from a top down perspective for respective areas

• Develop sales, gross margin, and inventory plans that support the company’s profit objectives, at a division/department level

• Partner with direct reports in planning and merchandising to ensure that financial objectives align with product opportunities

• Drive decisions regarding planning process, organizational structure, and system opportunities

• Develop team to utilize historical data and current trends, to capitalize on new opportunities, and identify risks

• Partner with Planners to understand weekly forecasts, category opportunities and risks, markdown recommendations, and reflowing of inventory

• Manage seasonal liabilities and delivery performance at a divisional/category/seasoncode level

• Review Planners’ 360-day forecasts with a focus on maximizing profit, optimizing inventory, and managing risk across divisions

• Challenge team to incorporate marketing strategies, markdown decisions, and inventory management to achieve the forecast

• Participate and prepare buy review with merchants, Planners, and Distribution Analysts to ensure appropriate breadth and depth and flawless execution

• Partner with lead merchants to ensure that plans support product goals and productivity

• Facilitate buy finalization meeting with merchant

• Gain consensus on assortment and plan from senior management

• Ensure all planning activities support annual business and financial objectives

• Train, develop, and manage direct reports; offer consistent and timely feedback to direct reports

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred

• 10+ years of experience

Skills and Behaviors:

• Ability to develop and recommend strategies

• Ability to drive business to meet and exceed company objectives

• Strong supervisory and leadership skills

• Excellent forecasting and excel abilities

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills

• Knowledge of planning and allocation systems

• Strong project management skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office