Senior Merchandise Planner (12-Month Contract)

SSENSE; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading tech platform in Montreal is seeking a Senior Merchandise Planner for a 12-month contract. This role involves driving strategic planning efforts, managing a high-value brand portfolio, and overseeing a small team. Candidates should have a background in finance or business, 5-8 years of merchandise planning experience, and advanced skills in Excel. Effective communication skills in both French and English are essential. The position allows for hybrid work, requiring office presence twice a week.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Generous Employee Discount

Access to telemedicine

Savings and retirement plan matching

Gender affirmation coverage

Opportunity to work with innovative technologies

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of merchandise planning experience, preferably in retail or e-commerce.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French and English.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive planning consistency and manage business plans for brand portfolio.
• Act as team lead and oversee planning activities for direct reports.
• Collaborate on budget allocation and ensure consistency in strategies.
• Lead cross-functional projects and refine planning processes.
• Build and manage training for new employees.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Retail math

Financial planning

Teamwork

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Tableau

Job description

Company Description

About Us: SSENSE (pronounced [es-uhns]) is a global technology platform operating at the intersection of culture, community, and commerce. Headquartered in Montreal, it features a mix of established and emerging luxury brands across womenswear, menswear, kidswear, and Everything ElseTM. SSENSE has garnered critical acclaim as both an e-commerce engine and a producer of cultural content, generating an average of 100 million monthly page views.

Job Description

This position is a 12-month contract

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Merchandise Planner to drive our department's strategic execution by developing comprehensive business plans that achieve key performance indicators. This leadership role ensures planning consistency, provides deep analytical support for sound decision‑making, and develops strategies to maximize sales, margin, and inventory turnover. The Senior Merchandise Planner will manage a small, high‑value brand portfolio and oversee a small team of direct reports, including managing performance and professional development.

What You Will Do:

• Strategic Merchandise Planning and Execution:

  • Drive consistency in all planning activities, maintain business plans for a small brand portfolio to ensure targets are achieved, and work collaboratively with planning leadership to understand company sales, margin, and receipt goals.

  • Proactively conduct analysis on deviations from the plan and actively participate in identifying critical business opportunities and risks, recommending clear and actionable courses of action.

• Team Leadership and Operational Oversight:

  • Act as a team lead by clearly and effectively communicating departmental goals and targets.

  • Oversee the day‑to‑day planning activities of direct reports, providing mentorship and task reviews to maintain high quality and consistent departmental standards.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Budget Management:

  • Collaborate closely with Merchandise Planners on budget allocation to ensure consistency and accuracy in brand strategy plans.

  • Communicate effectively on deviations between Top Down and Bottom Up plans and partner with leadership to devise strategies for reaching the overall budget.

• Process Improvement and Strategic Initiatives:

  • Lead and contribute to cross‑functional projects, aligning stakeholders and utilizing planning insights to support broader company objectives.

  • Partner with Planners to refine planning processes, templates, and tools, with a focus on streamlining workflows, improving operational efficiency, and exploring automation opportunities.

• People Development and Training:

  • Build and manage training schedules, including onboarding calendars, content, and documentation, for new employees joining the team.

  • Deliver hands‑on training and mentorship to ensure new hires quickly and consistently develop the core skills required for success in merchandise planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or a related field.

• 5‑8 years of merchandise planning experience, preferably in the retail, e‑commerce industry.

• Advanced skills using Microsoft Excel.

• Knowledge of Tableau, an asset.

• Excellent French and English written and verbal communication skills. French is required as it is the language in the Quebec province.

• Available to come at the office twice a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

What Sets You Apart:

• Highly analytical and detailed oriented.

• Creative thinker with excellent problem solving abilities.

• Strong retail math, financial planning and forecasting skills.

• Strong sense of teamwork and ability to multitask.

• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced and high‑growth environment.

Perks And Benefits:

• Extended health and dental benefits, including comprehensive mental health programs and coverage.
• Generous Employee Discount.
• Access to telemedicine and employee and family assistance program.
• Savings and retirement plan matching contributions.
• Gender affirmation coverage.
• Opportunity to work with cutting edge technologies and an innovative team that’s pushing the boundaries of technology.

SSENSE is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you need special accommodations, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate you!

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