Hybrid Merchandise Planning Analyst: OTB & Forecasting

System One; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Job summary

System One in New York, NY is seeking a Freelance Planning Analyst to join the Merchandise Planning team. You will manage inventory flow, optimize Open-to-Buy strategies, and analyze product performance to support accurate forecasting and growth.

This contract role requires 2–4 years in merchandise planning and strong proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets, enabling cross-functional partnership with Merchandising, Buying and Allocation teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management or retail analytics.
• Specialty retail experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of retail metrics and planning concepts (OTB, GMROI, sell-through).
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets, including complex formulas and pivot tables.
• Able to collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Buying and Allocation teams.

Responsibilities

• Assume planning responsibility for a specific merchandise category and monitor inventory health.
• Provide quantitative insights to inform seasonal buys and assortment strategies.
• Build and optimize Open-to-Buy processes and forecasts for growth.
• Analyze sales trends, margins, and inventory health to identify risks and opportunities.
• Support in-season pricing, promotions and markdown decisions to maximize profitability.
• Respond to ad hoc merchandising requests with actionable analysis.
• Streamline reporting and improve data accessibility for cross-functional partners.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Retail analytics

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

System One in New York, NY is seeking a Freelance Planning Analyst to join the Merchandise Planning team. You will manage inventory flow, optimize Open-to-Buy strategies, and analyze product performance to support accurate forecasting and growth.

This contract role requires 2–4 years in merchandise planning and strong proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets, enabling cross-functional partnership with Merchandising, Buying and Allocation teams in a fast-paced environment.