Director, Merchandise Planning - Beauty

Victoria’s Secret & Co.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 152,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria’s Secret & Co. in New York seeks a Director of Merchandise Planning to lead planning strategy and financial performance across multiple businesses, retail and digital.

You will partner with Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Store Operations, and Sourcing to develop integrated sales, margin, inventory, and assortment plans. You will translate brand strategies into actionable financial plans, guide a high-performing planning team, drive data-driven insights, and align stakeholders around

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, Statistics, or a relevant field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in merchandise planning and inventory management.
• Experience in vertically integrated retail, beauty, personal care, or consumer products preferred.
• Experience supporting store and digital commerce channels preferred.
• Experience leading teams and developing high-performing talent.
• Strong understanding of retail planning, inventory management, and supply chain operations.
• Expertise in forecasting methodologies, demand planning, and statistical analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning strategy and financial performance for multiple merchandise businesses across retail and digital channels.
• Translate brand strategies into actionable financial and inventory plans.
• Develop, manage, and optimize sales, margin, inventory, and receipt plans.
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations based on trends and forecasts.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Merchandise Planning team.
• Partner cross-functionally to coordinate opportunities and challenges.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Planning systems

Forecasting tools

Data analysis tools

Job description

The Director, Merchandise Planning leads planning strategy and financial performance for multiple merchandise businesses across retail and digital channels. This role partners with Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Store Operations, and Sourcing/Production to develop and execute integrated sales, margin, inventory, and assortment plans that support brand growth and financial results.

As a key business partner, the Director translates brand strategies and merchandising vision into actionable financial and inventory plans, balancing growth opportunities with risk management. This leader provides data-driven insights and recommendations based on market trends, customer behavior, historical performance, and forecasts, while driving stakeholder alignment around a consensus plan.

The Director also leads and develops a high-performing Merchandise Planning team, fostering accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and talent development.

Your Impact:

Merchandise Planning & Business Leadership

• Partner with Merchandising leadership to develop category and assortment strategies that support brand growth and financial objectives.
• Translate brand and commercialization strategies into merchandise plans, assortment architectures, and execution strategies.
• Develop, manage, and optimize sales, margin, inventory, and receipt plans across assigned businesses.
• Analyze performance, identify opportunities and risks, and recommend actions to maximize growth and profitability.
• Manage promotional and event calendars to align inventory positioning with business objectives.
• Present strategic recommendations and business analyses in executive and cross-functional forums.
• Serve as a key decision-maker and facilitator to resolve planning assumptions and build cross-functional consensus.
• Identify and communicate risks that may impact financial or operational goals.
• Partner cross-functionally to coordinate and resolve merchandise planning opportunities and challenges.
• Champion planning best practices, process excellence, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Evaluate planning processes, systems, and tools to improve efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and open idea exchange.
• Challenge traditional thinking and promote data-driven decision-making, smart risk-taking, and continuous learning.
• Encourage knowledge sharing and adoption of leading methodologies and practices.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top planning talent while building internal and external pipelines.
• Lead succession planning and develop future leaders.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and development opportunities to strengthen team effectiveness and engagement.
• Establish clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability standards.
• Support growth through development plans, stretch assignments, mentorship, and training.
• Foster a high-performance culture aligned with organizational values and business objectives.
• Recognize achievements, celebrate successes, and build commitment to shared goals.

Minimum Salary: $152,300.00

Maximum Salary: $216,090.00

VS&Co provides a range of compensation for this role as shown. Your actual salary will be determined by a number of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic region, or other relevant factors.

Your Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, Statistics, or a relevant field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, demand forecasting, or related disciplines.
• Experience in vertically integrated retail, beauty, personal care, or consumer products preferred
• Experience supporting store and digital commerce channels preferred
• Experience leading teams and developing high-performing talent.
• Strong understanding of retail planning, inventory management, and supply chain operations.
• Expertise in forecasting methodologies, demand planning, and statistical analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence and build partnerships across functions and levels.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced proficiency with planning systems, analytical tools, and decision-support technologies.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws. Please see links: California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Philadelphia Fair Chance Law, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance

An equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.