Associate Merchandise Planner

Lucky Brand; New York (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision benefits

Paid vacation/holidays

401(k) with company match

Associate discount

Job summary

Lucky Brand is seeking an Associate Merchandise Planner in the United States. The role focuses on planning and forecasting to meet financial objectives while supporting merchandising across pre-season and in-season cycles.

You will collaborate with cross-functional partners to optimize sales, gross margin, and inventory alignment. The position calls for a strong foundation in retail math, merchandising analytics, and advanced Excel skills, with 2–4 years of related experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a 4-year college or university.
• 2–4 years of merchandise planning, store planning, allocation, or related analytics.
• Foundational retail math, inventory management, and KPI knowledge.
• Strong MS Excel skills and exposure to retail planning systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment with changing trends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising and financial objectives of the Company.
• With guidance, create pre-season sales, margin and inventory plans by department, class, and/or Style/Program to support product and financial strategies. Review with Senior Planner and Director.
• Analyze historical data and current trends to recap business. Identify risks and opportunities by department and by class; align inventory with Merchant partners.
• Collaborate with Merchandising to develop and communicate strategies that align future financial and product opportunities.
• Present in-season forecasts and action plans in open-to-buy meetings; lead discussions with management and cross-functional teams.
• Hindsight in-season & post-season performance by category; share results with cross-functional teams and implement future strategies.
• Develop item-level promotional and markdown strategies in partnership with Merchandising.
• Create and publish weekly Merchandise Planning reports, including ad hoc recaps.
• Collaborate with CFT for replenishment, receipt flow, testing strategies, with direction from Senior Planner.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Excel

Retail planning systems

Job description

General Summary

The Associate Merchandise Planner is responsible for the plan and forecast processes for the brand business to ensure company financial objectives are achieved. This position will provide strategic and analytical support to merchandising through all phases of product life cycle (pre season and in season) and will collaborate with cross functional business partners to ensure sales, gross margin, and key investment goals are achieved.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop, execute and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising and financial objectives of the Company.
• With guidance, create pre-season sales, margin and inventory plans by department, class, and/or Style/Program to support product and financial strategies. Review with Senior Planner and Director.
• Analyze historical data and current trends to recap business. Work to identify risks and opportunities by department and by class. In partnership with Senior Planner, create strategies to align inventory with Merchant partners.
• Collaborate with Merchandising to develop and communicate strategies that align future financial and product opportunities in the area.
• Present in-season forecasts and action plans in open-to-buy meetings. Create action plan based on forecast and lead discussions to management & cross functional teams.
• Hindsight in-season & post-season performance by category. Share results with cross functional teams, identifying opportunities and implement strategies for go forward season.
• Develop item-level promotional and markdown strategies on a weekly basis in partnership with Merchandising.
• Create and publish various weekly Merchandise Planning reports, including ad hoc recaps.
• Collaborate with CFT for replenishment, receipt flow, testing strategies, with direction from Senior Planner.

Position Requirements

• Bachelors Degree from a 4-year college or university
• Minimum of 2-4 years of Merchandise Planning, Store Planning, Allocation and/or related analytical function
• Foundational understanding of retail math, merchandise planning, inventory management, and related KPIs with the ability to learn and apply the measurements across Stores & Ecommerce business channels.
• Strong MS Excel skills and exposure to retail planning systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills to partner with cross functional team members as well leadership.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, detail & deadline oriented environment with changing business trends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

What You Get

If eligible, we offer a competitive benefits package including medical/dental/vision, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays*, and 401(k) with Company match. All associates are eligible for an associate discount on all Catalyst Brands merchandise. For paid holidays, associates who are eligible for paid vacation (MTO) are also eligible for eight paid holidays during the calendar year. All store hourly associates scheduled to work on a designated holiday will receive additional compensation. *For paid vacation days, as well as eligibility requirements for other benefits, please visit www.catalystbrandsbenefits.com

Pay Range

USD $62,700.00 - USD $72,100.00 /Yr.