Merchandise Planning Associate, Men's DTC

Ralph Lauren; New York (NY); On-site; USD 62,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Lauren Corporation in New York is seeking a strategic planner to lead financial planning, assortment planning and inventory management across key product categories. You will align assortment with financial goals, drive stock availability, and optimize processes through cross-functional collaboration and systems like Microstrategy and O9 Planning.

The role requires strong retail math and analytical thinking, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a luxury environment.

Qualifications

• Proficient in retail math and cost accounting.
• Display analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong listening, written and communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented and accurate.
• Able to develop and maintain effective cross-functional relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop assortment plans to deliver corporate objectives.
• Align assortment strategy with financial goals.
• Oversee allocation strategies to support financial targets.
• Meet with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of planning and distribution.
• Model the Ralph Lauren way and lead cross-divisional collaboration.

Skills

Retail math

Cost accounting

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Multitasking

Organization

Cross-functional teamwork

Tools

Microstrategy

MS Office

GFE+

Impact Analytics

O9 Planning

Job description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Responsible for developing assortment plans that deliver corporate objectives. Responsible for development and implementation of strategic vision to maximize profitability both in-season and pre-season; inclusive of Sales, GM, Inventory. Align merchandise assortment strategy with financial goals. Contribute to corporate projects resulting in improved departmental systems and efficiencies. Determine investment at SKU level.

Financial Planning

• Deliver financial results through assortment strategies using current/ historical trends; store research.


• Create and maintain complete style plans in buy tools/ key item planning tools for in-season & pre-season Retail Sales/ GM/ inventory.


• Communicate financial strategies for key programs pre-season meetings.


• Oversee and approve allocation strategies to support financial goals.


• Meet with cross functional team to ensure departmental strategies align to short and long term objectives.

Assortment Planning

• Quantify and ensure assortment supports financial targets in partnership with planner.


• Collaborate with buyer to work through assortment gaps/challenges.


• Execute to store clustering and attribute analysis.


• Ensure accuracy of GFE projections.

Inventory Management

• Accountable for executing receipt management, reconciliation and reflow opportunities.


• Analyze and forecast sales and inventory at a style level.


• Communicating with production on receipt flow needs.

Process Leadership

• Model the Ralph Lauren way.


• Partner closely with team leaders to align cross-functional objectives and best practices.


• Coordinate efforts of direct reports to ensure consistency of planning and distribution.


• Develop and maintain cross-divisional peer relationships.


• Communicate opportunities where management support is needed on initiatives and strategies.


• Foster a collaborative, creative, results-oriented work environment.


• Adapt to new technologies.

Salary range: $62,000 - $95,935 annually,

Systems & Tools

• Microstrategy


• Microsoft Office Suite


• GFE+


• Impact Analytics allocation system


• O9 Planning systems

Required Skills

• Proficient in retail math and cost accounting.


• Display analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Demonstrates strong listening, written and communication skills.


• Ability to multi-task.


• Highly organized, detail-oriented and accurate.


• Able to develop and maintain effective cross-functional relationships.