Planner, Apparel

Kroger; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Flexible scheduling

Tuition reimbursement

Associate discounts

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Kroger is seeking a category finance and planning professional in Portland to collaborate with buyers, plan weekly and annual sales, and ensure budgets align with corporate goals. You will analyze performance, optimize inventories, and support advertising and on-floor presentations.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, creating financial plans by period, and driving assortment and markdown strategies to boost sales and margins across department stores and formats.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field plus two years of assistant buyer/assistant planner experience or equivalent
• High level of accuracy with strong attention to detail
• Ability to handle high complexity in item difficulty, promos, regionality, and growth goals
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in a fast-paced retail/office environment

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coach direct reports and conduct performance reviews
• Create and manage financial plans by period including sales, gross margin and turnover
• Create/manage assortment plans; perform product allocation for department, marketplace and food stores
• Provide analysis to drive sales, margin and inventory strategies
• Support advertising and on-floor presentation plans and turnover
• Re-forecast in-season sales and margins based on trends; propose improvement actions
• Communicate status of open-to-buy and inventory to stakeholders
• Analyze seasonal/fashion categories and plan for the following season
• Lead team meetings and coordinate with Replenishment to manage store/warehouse inventory
• Create markdown reports and forecasts for department stores
• Determine plan-o-gram minimums and communicate results to vendors
• Conduct enterprise-wide store tours and monitor industry trends
• Analyze promotions/markdown results and align with business goals
• Ensure stores are planned and inventory allocated to maximize sales
• Travel for vendor appointments and store visits

Skills

attention to detail

ms office

retail terminology

fast-paced environment

self-motivated

Education

bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Work closely with buyers to create category financial plans. Plan, forecast and coordinate each division's weekly, period and annual sales for general merchandise (GM); ensure profit budget is consistent with corporate/division goals. Perform analyses; recommend actionable steps to improve/enhance category performance. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Create/manage financial plans by period, including sales, markdowns, gross margin and turnover at sub-class level for department store formats and class level for other formats
• Create/manage assortment plans; perform product allocation for department, marketplace and food stores
• Provide analysis based on quantitative/qualitative sources to drive enterprise sales, margin and inventory strategies
• Support advertising/display plans and optimization of on-floor presentations and turnover
• Re-forecast in-season sales, margin and turnover based on current trends/market dynamics; recommend actions to address improvement opportunities
• Reconcile department store open-to-buy; communicate status to key stakeholders
• Analyze seasonal/fashion categories; recommend courses of action; create a strategy for the following season
• Facilitate team meetings; provide timely communications to the planning team regarding process strategies Work closely with Replenishment team to manage store/warehouse inventory
• Create/manage sales markdown reports/forecasts for department stores
• Determine plan-o-gram minimums by utilizing store volume and with input from GM/divisional merchandise managers, buyers and replenishment analysts; communicate results to vendors
• Conduct enterprise-wide store tours
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, the competitive landscape across enterprise and regional needs
• Analyze results of promotions/markdowns; make recommendations to support business goals
• Ensure new/remodeled stores are planned correctly and inventory is allocated to maximize sales
• Travel to markets and for vendor appointments
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree business or a related field plus two years of combined assistant buyer and assistant planner experience or a combination of relevant education/experience
• Ability to complete tasks with a high level of accuracy and a strong attention to detail
• High complexity in terms of item difficulty, promo intensity, regionality, category innovation, vendor difficulty, sales/EBITA and growth goals (Lvl 11)
• Moderate complexity in terms of item difficulty, promo intensity, regionality, category innovation, vendor difficulty, sales/EBITA and growth goals (Lvl 10)
• Low complexity in terms of item difficulty, promo intensity, regionality, category innovation, vendor difficulty, sales/EBITA and growth goals (Lvl 9
• Highly motivated/self-directed
• Ability to function in a fast-paced retail/office environment
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills
• Familiar with retail industry technical terms/processes
• Ability to organize/prioritize tasks/projects

Desired

• Computer systems knowledge
• Experience directing/participating on project teams
• Familiarity with financial systems

Job Info

• Job Identification 233790
• Job Category Category Management/Merchandising
• Posting Date 09/25/2026, 04:15 PM
• Locations 3800 SE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR, 97202, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.