Merchandise Planner

24 Seven Talent; Manhattan Beach (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

24 Seven Talent seeks a detail-oriented Merchandise Planner to drive Open-to-Buy planning, forecast accuracy and inventory optimization. You will partner with merchandising, buying and finance to align plans with sales forecasts and financial targets.

The role requires strong retail math, data analysis and Excel skills, with experience in SKU-level planning and lifecycle management. Join a fast-paced team and influence stock levels and profitability.

Qualifications

• Strong retail math, inventory management and financial planning basics.
• Experience turning data into actionable business decisions.
• SKU- and category-level planning, forecasting and inventory management.
• Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans aligning with goals.
• Monitor sales trends, inventory levels and receipt flow for risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with merchandising and buying to align plans with assortment strategies.
• Participate in forecasting meetings and provide performance insights.
• Reforecast needs to optimize stock and meet financial targets.
• Create seasonal merchandise plans across categories.
• Analyze sales, inventory productivity and market trends.
• Lead inventory planning discussions with cross-functional teams.
• Build reporting, forecasting tools and financial models for planning.

Skills

Retail math

Inventory management

Financial planning

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Pivot Tables

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Merchandise Planner to support the development and execution of merchandise strategies that drive sales, inventory optimization, and overall business performance. This role is responsible for both pre-season planning and in-season inventory management, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to ensure inventory investments align with financial and merchandising objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans to support monthly, quarterly, and annual business goals


• Monitor sales trends, inventory levels, and receipt flow to identify risks and opportunities and recommend actionable solutions


• Collaborate with merchandising and buying teams to ensure inventory plans align with assortment strategies and business objectives


• Participate in regular forecasting and inventory review meetings, providing insights and recommendations based on performance


• Reforecast sales and inventory needs, adjusting plans as necessary to optimize stock levels and support financial targets


• Create seasonal merchandise plans across categories, ensuring product investments align with sales forecasts and inventory objectives


• Analyze sales performance, inventory productivity, and market trends to drive informed planning decisions


• Manage inventory lifecycle strategies, including markdown recommendations, exit strategies, and transition planning for product assortments


• Lead cross-functional discussions related to inventory planning, forecasting, and Open-to-Buy management


• Build and maintain reporting, forecasting tools, and financial models to support planning initiatives

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of retail math, inventory management, and financial planning concepts


• Experience utilizing financial metrics and reporting to drive business decisions


• Ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into actionable business recommendations


• Experience with SKU-level and category-level planning, forecasting, and inventory management


• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.


• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence cross-functional partners.


• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and results-driven


• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs (or equivalent functions

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, buying, allocation, forecasting, or a related retail planning functions


• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience


• Experience within retail, consumer goods, apparel, footwear, accessories, or a related industry preferred.


• Ability to work collaboratively across merchandising, finance, and operations teams