Associate Merchandise Planner

JCPenney; Northern, New York (KY, NY); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision

401(k) with company match

Associate discount

Job summary

Nautica is seeking an Associate Merchandise Planner to drive the merchandise strategy and optimize inventory across departments. You will build seasonal buy plans, develop assortment architectures, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute business opportunities.

The role involves developing weekly and item-level financial plans, pricing strategies, and in-season reforecasts to maximize sales, gross margin, and turns. Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 1–2 years of merchandise planning or related financial/analytical experience.
• Strong knowledge of retail, merchandising and price optimization concepts.
• Able to interpret financial information accurately using numerical concepts.
• Advanced Excel skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Build financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans at weekly and item level.
• Create pricing strategy by item to maximize sales and gross profit.
• Reforecast in-season and present revised projections to cross-functional partners and senior leadership.
• Create allocation strategies to meet store inventory needs.
• Plan product assortments (item, color, size) for each category.
• Review replenishment plans monthly to drive sales and turn goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments to ensure success of product strategies.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Communication skills

Retail math

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

MicroStrategy

Foresight

Job description

Overview

Associate Merchandise Planner

Nautica

POSITION SUMMARY

As an Associate Merchandise Planneryou will be responsible for driving the merchandise strategy and optimizing inventory to meet and exceed financial goals. The Planner’s key focus is generating an assortment architecture for a given area and creating a seasonal buy plan by classification and/or item while developing seasonal product strategies based on business opportunities and collaborating with cross-functional partners to execute their vision.

The Associate Merchandise Planner builds financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans for multiple departments at the item/classification level. Provides markdown strategies to drive departmental sales, inventory, profit and sell thru objectives and delivers in-season financial projections (OTB) and strategies identifying risks and opportunities to maximize profits. Responsible for providing the Store Planning Team with the necessary guidance and direction to help them achieve their objectives.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Build financial sales, gross margin and inventory plans at a weekly and item level
• Create pricing strategy by item that maximizes sales and gross profit
• Reforecast business in-season based on current performance, present revised projections and recommendations to cross functional partners and senior leadership
• Create allocation strategies, incorporating the merchandise plan and flow strategy to meet store inventory needs.
• Create and plan product assortments (item, color, size) for each product category
• Review replenishment plans monthly by style/size with team to ensure optimal inventory which drive sales and turn goals.
• Collaborate with cross functional departments to ensure success of product strategies
• Other related duties to be assigned by direct supervisor
• Frequent in person collaboration

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum of 1-2 years of Merchandise Planning or related financial/analytical experience
• Business knowledge of retail, merchandising and price optimization concepts
• Readily grasps numerical concepts and interprets financial information accurately
• Ability to utilize retail math skills to analyze and drive business
• Advanced excel skills necessary

Preferred

• Knowledge of Financial Planning Applications (ie Microstrategy, Foresight)
• Ability to successfully collaborate with internal partners
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Able to independently organize and prioritize broad workload to meet deadlines
• Strong written communication skills
• Outstanding verbal communication skills with the ability to influence
• Exhibits high standards and accountability; takes pride in accuracy
• Results-oriented and self-motivated with a strong sense of urgency

5-6 PERFORMANCE COMPETENCIES

• Proactivity and Drive
• Execution
• Collaborative Spirit
• Judgement
• Adopt and Embrace Change

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 $72,000.00 /Yr.