Merchandise Planning Manager

Clarksoutlet; Needham (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarksoutlet in Needham, Massachusetts is seeking a Merchandise Planning professional to drive effective sales and inventory management. The role involves developing financial plans, managing inventory flow, and collaborating cross-functionally to optimize merchandise assortments.

The ideal candidate will have a background in footwear retail and strong analytical abilities. Proficiency in advanced Excel and planning software is vital for success. This role offers a competitive compensation package and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in footwear retail merchandise planning.
• Knowledge of business operating models.
• Strong analytical and computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal financial plans including sales and margin forecasts.
• Manage inventory flow and markdown processes.
• Analyze sell-through and margin drivers.

Skills

Footwear retail merchandise planning

Buying

Demand and supply planning

Analytical skills

Verbal communication skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Planning Software

Tools

Data warehouse/query tools

MID

SAP

Job description

Job Description

Posted Monday 27 April 2026 at 04:00

This role will be accountable for driving profitable sales for the region, managing sales and inventory activities by setting SKU sales targets, maintaining a bottoms‑up open‑to‑buy plan, monitoring inventory aging and quality, and providing stock productivity analysis. The ideal candidate blends strong analytical capability with a commercial mindset and collaborative communication skills.

What You’ll Do

• Develop seasonal financial plans by class, department, and channel, including sales, units, margin, and inventory.
• Build and maintain item‑level or class‑level forecasts based on historical performance, trends, and merchant strategy.
• Translate business strategy into monthly and weekly sales plans.
• Own inventory flow, weeks of supply, and receipt plans to support sales while minimizing markdown risk.
• Partner with Allocation/Replenishment to optimize initial buys and ongoing replenishment.
• Identify risks and opportunities related to overstock, shortages, or flow disruptions.
• Manage the markdown in season and closeout/end‑of‑life process.
• Produce style count and SKU productivity targets to govern the region’s range selection activity. Monitor performance against these targets and make recommendations to the Merchant team to improve results.
• Partner with Merchants/Buyers to align assortments and buy quantities with financial goals.
• Work with Finance on forecasts, re‑projections, and inventory investments.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Allocation to ensure receipts and store/channel flow align with demand.
• Analyze sell‑through, productivity, aged inventory, and margin drivers.
• Provide post‑mortem analysis to inform future seasons.
• Work cross‑functionally with other departments within the organization to optimize buy targets, SKU optimization, and time‑phased category plans.
• Monitor OTB flow for the current buying season and an extended 18‑month strategic open‑to‑buy plan for future product seasons.
• Manage in‑season inventory activities, forecasting to a roll‑forward projection and making adjustments based on the agreed‑upon top‑down plan.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in footwear retail merchandise planning, buying, demand, and supply planning
• Knowledge of different business operating models
• Successful Retail Merchandise, Buying, Demand and Supply Planning experience
• Experience in key distribution channels – wholesale, retail, and digital
• Ability to analyze trends and use that information to plan and forecast effectively
• Strong analytical and verbal skills
• Strong computer skills, including the following tools:
• Data warehouse/data mart query and report development tools
• Advanced Microsoft Excel (if statements, linking, pivot tables, etc.)
• Planning Software (MID, Blue Yonder, NSB/STS/MMS, I2, Retek, Evant, SAP, etc.)

Compensation

Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.

We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re‑assignment, complying with local legislative requirements.