Assistant Planner, Home

Kroger; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Flexible scheduling

Employee discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Kroger is seeking a Category Management/Merchandising professional at our Portland, OR location to execute day-to-day category planning activities, including financial forecasting, product analysis, assortment planning and product allocation. You will partner with planners and buyers to optimize open-to-buy and align with the financial plan.

Responsibilities include managing sales and margin plans, identifying growth opportunities, and coordinating allocation across store formats using JDA and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in business or 2 years of retail store managerial experience or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Accuracy/attention to detail.
• Completed development plan for both assistant buyer and assistant planner (Level 7).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with retail industry/technical terms and processes.
• Ability to function in a fast paced, retail/office environment.
• Organize/prioritize tasks/projects.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the planner in the management of sales, inventory and margin plans.
• Assist the planner in executing the overall vision for the category (e.g., assortment planning, receipt flow, product allocation, inventory and margin) ensuring the right product gets into the right stores at the right time.
• Identify trends, growth opportunities, and sales deficiencies through detailed recaps and in-depth analysis.
• Partner with planner, buyer, replenishment buyer, and assistant buyer to execute changes that will affect the open to buy.
• Develop assortment plans by utilizing store volume grades, planogram versions and capacity to guide the buying team on receipt units and dollars that correlate with the financial plan.
• Execute the assortment plan and buyer's vision by allocating product to multiple store formats (department, marketplace, expanded, food), and utilizing various allocation software (James Donald Armstrong (JDA), Enterprise Allocator, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Retail Service Center (RSC) warehouses regarding any issues with JDA Allocations, including both flow through and warehouse slotted merchandise.
• Oversee a sub-set of the planner's total categories
• Locate and select assortments for the enterprise; manage vendor relationships to maximize sales, margins and minimize costs for assigned categories
• Support special projects
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Skills

Accuracy/attention to detail

Organize/prioritize tasks

Fast-paced environment experience

Retail terms familiarity

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business

Tools

JDA planning software

Microsoft Office

Magic

Job description

Work directly with the planner to execute day-to-day category planning activities including financial planning, product analysis, assortment planning, and product allocation. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the planner in the management of sales, inventory and margin plans
• Assist the planner in executing the overall vision for the category (e.g., assortment planning, receipt flow, product allocation, inventory and margin) ensuring the right product gets into the right stores at the right time
• Identify trends, growth opportunities, and sales deficiencies through detailed recaps and in-depth analysis
• Partner with planner, buyer, replenishment buyer, and assistant buyer to execute changes that will affect the open to buy
• Develop assortment plans by utilizing store volume grades, planogram versions and capacity to guide the buying team on receipt units and dollars that correlate with the financial plan
• Execute the assortment plan and buyer's vision by allocating product to multiple store formats (department, marketplace, expanded, food), and utilizing various allocation software (James Donald Armstrong (JDA), Enterprise Allocator, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Retail Service Center (RSC) warehouses regarding any issues with JDA Allocations, including both flow through and warehouse slotted merchandise
• Oversee a sub-set of the planner's total categories
• Locate and select assortments for the enterprise; manage vendor relationships to maximize sales, margins and minimize costs for assigned categories
• Support special projects
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree business or 2 years of retail store managerial experience or a combination of relevant education and experience
• Accuracy/attention to detail
• Completed development plan for both assistant buyer and assistant planner (Level 7)
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Familiarity with retail industry/technical terms and processes
• Ability to function in a fast paced, retail/office environment
• Organize/prioritize tasks/projects

Desired

• Knowledge of JDA planning software or similar software
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, Magic
• Familiarity with retail financial components

Job Info

• Job Identification 235051
• Job Category Category Management/Merchandising
• Posting Date 09/29/2026, 06:18 PM
• Locations 3800 SE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR, 97202, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.

Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.

Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.