Senior Manager, Merchandise Planning

Disney Experiences; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is on the lookout for a Senior Manager in Merchandise Planning. This pivotal role involves leading a dynamic team to craft strategic financial plans that drive growth and enhance the guest experience. You will be at the forefront of analyzing trends and making data-driven decisions that influence product assortment and inventory management. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in merchandise planning, financial analysis, and leadership, thriving in a fast-paced environment. Join this innovative firm to make a significant impact on the lives of families through captivating products and experiences.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Savings Benefits

Educational Opportunities

Exclusive Disney Perks

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in merchandise planning and financial analysis.
• Strong leadership experience guiding and motivating teams.
• Ability to analyze data and provide actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team in creating category plans and forecasts.
• Drive business accountability for revenue and cost of goods.
• Analyze data to identify trends and make data-driven decisions.

Skills

Merchandise Planning

Financial Analysis

Leadership

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

6+ years of related experience

Tools

Retail Planning Software

MS Office

Excel

Business Intelligence Tools

Oracle MFP

MicroStrategy

Tableau

Job description

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About the Role & Team: At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives. From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world!

The Disney Store Planning organization is responsible for developing a strategic financial plan to drive growth and profitability and deliver on the Guest experience. The team is the foundation of the DisneyStore.com Channel and works in partnership with Merchandising and Sourcing to deliver a range of items relevant to Disney Stores (e-Commerce and brick & mortar).

You and your teams will drive a quarterly/annual financial strategy for an assortment across multiple categories based on detailed knowledge of business insights and analytics, trends within the marketplace, and guest mix across channels. You will evaluate the assortment and react to in-season performance, trends, and takeaways to inform & adjust current and future seasons’ financial and inventory positioning. You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of all key financial performance indicators to build recommendations and influence the broader organization's execution. The Senior Manager, Merchandise Planning will report to the Director - Planning & Allocation and lead a team of 2 direct and 3 second level reports.

This is a Full Time Role.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the team that creates Category Plans, including weekly, monthly, and annual forecasts
• Drive the business with full accountability to revenue and cost of goods for an area of responsibility
• Own the pre-season & in-season planning, including forecasting and inventory open-to-buy management to drive growth and profitability
• Analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions that provide actionable insights
• Lead the development of monthly/annual cause-of-change models
• Translate business performance drivers and metrics into informative analysis and recommendations, influencing organizational decisions
• Identify pricing and liquidation opportunities for your division to manage inventory liability
• Lead cross-functional merchandise meetings, provide input on product performance, assortment strategies, and inventory positioning
• Mentor & develop team members’ skills to continually build bench strength and broaden career path opportunities

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• 6+ years of experience in merchandise planning, financial analysis, and/or strategy development
• Leadership experience guiding and motivating teams with a strong track record of achievement, advancement, and performance
• Use financial forecasting, analytical, and communication skills to turn business performance data into useful insights and recommendations for senior leaders
• Proven ability to shape business decisions, influence partners, and build relationships across the company
• Apply storytelling techniques to financial data and present it to leaders at various levels
• Ability to meet timelines, handle multiple priorities, and perform responsibilities accurately in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with retail planning software or systems, MS Office, Excel, and Business Intelligence tools

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• Knowledge with retail planning software such as Oracle MFP (Merchandise Financial Planning)
• Understanding of Business Intelligence tools including MicroStrategy
• Proficiency in interpreting Tableau reports and leveraging insights to enhance performance
• Self-starter with curiosity and ability to navigate ambiguity
• Ability to work within a matrix organization and find creative solutions

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or 6+ years of related experience

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Mathematics, or related fields

Benefits and perks include health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and exclusive Disney perks. For more details, visit https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.