Americas - Associate Merchandise Planner

Clarks group; Needham (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarks is seeking an Associate Merchandise Planner to drive profitability through strategic planning, forecasting and inventory management. You will work across departments to optimize buys, assortments and open-to-buy plans, supporting the Planning Manager with timely analysis and reporting.

You will bring experience in retail merchandising, strong analytical skills, and proficiency with Excel, Power BI, SAP and related tools to improve forecast accuracy and cash flow across channels.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail merchandise planning, buying, demand and supply planning; footwear experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of different business operating models – Retail, Franchise, Outlet, Ecommerce, Wholesale.
• Finance – Retail Merchandise Planning – Budgets, Forecasts, Sales, Margin.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitable sales and margin for the department; manage open-to-buy and assortment plans.
• Maintain 18-month open-to-buy plan and time-phased category plans for future seasons.
• Forecast inventory and roll-forward projections; support markdowns and closeouts.
• Create and update inventory productivity analyses including stock aging and velocity.
• Review position versus top-down plan; identify risks and opportunities for optimization.
• Provide analysis on assortment by distribution cluster; profitability and stockouts.
• Collaborate with Merchants to set buy targets by channel and translate plans to lower classification levels.
• Develop weekly and monthly reports and evaluate KPIs against targets.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

SAP

Supply chain

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Presentation

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel

Business Objects

Job description

ASSOCIATE MERCHANDISE PLANNER

The Associate Merchandise Planner will be accountable in driving profitable sales & margin for their department. They will also be responsible for assisting in the management of sales & inventory activities by maintaining bottoms up open-to-buy plans, assortment plans, monitoring sales & inventory, and providing stock productivity analysis. They will create and analyze forecasts across the channels and report into the Planning Manager.

What you’ll do:

• Work cross functionally with other departments within the organization in order to optimize buy plan, sku optimization, as well as time phased category plans. Work closely with Merchant/Product teams.
• Maintaining OTB flow for current buying season and an extended 18 month strategic open to buy plan for future product seasons.
• Assist with the in-season inventory activities such as forecasting a roll forward projection and adjusting based on the agreed top-down plan. Support Planning Manager with markdown and closeout process.
• Create and update inventory productivity analysis including stock aging, pareto, velocity, flow optimization, and seasonal mix.
• Review current position against the top-down plan; identify risks and opportunities for optimization.
• Provide analysis on an as needed basis including assortment analysis by distribution grade/cluster; productivity and profitability by category; markdown cadence optimization; stockouts and service levels, etc.
• Responsible for collaborating with the Merchant team to create buy targets by channel. Breaking the future plans to lower classification levels in order to improve forecast accuracy. Time-phasing category plans in order to improve cash flow and deliver products just in time to maximize sales.
• Support in the development of standard weekly and monthly reports and evaluating performance versus agreed upon KPIs.

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience retail merchandise planning, buying, demand and supply planning, footwear a plus.
• Knowledge of different business operating models – Retail, Franchise, Outlet, Ecommerce, Wholesale.
• Finance – Retail Merchandise Planning – Budgets, Forecasts, Sales, Margin, Margin %.
• Supply Chain – Merchandise metrics and Supply Chain logistics.
• Experience in key distribution channels – wholesale, retail, and digital.
• Comprehensive understanding of overall business operations.
• Ability to analyze trends and use that information to effectively plan and forecast.
• Strong analytical and verbal skills.
• Decision making skills.
• Practical understanding of financial, range, space and demand planning processes.
• Practical understanding of trading and marketing planning processes.
• Strong computer skills including the following tools:
• Data warehouse/data mart query and report development tools.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using SAP, Business Objects, and Power BI to analyze data, create reports, and support business decisions.
• Organizational skills to coordinate feedback from a variety of sources.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly share insights and recommendations with team members and stakeholders.

About Clarks

Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brother James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and Launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks. This season, we’re proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all-bringing to life Clarks’ new global campaign, for the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, we’re ready to lead the way. After all, we’re the originators, not imitators. It’s who we are, who we’ve always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, we’re doing things differently today.

As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment', complying with local legislative requirements.

Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations.The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.