Senior Merchandise Planner

PetSmart Store Support Group, Inc.; Hyde Park Township (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Sr. Merchandise Financial Planner to lead financial planning efforts. This role is crucial in aligning financial targets with merchandising strategies, utilizing data analytics to influence decisions, and enhancing inventory management. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills and a collaborative mindset, driving growth opportunities while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. Join a vibrant team that values diversity and fosters a culture of belonging, where your contributions will directly impact the success of the organization.

Benefits

Pet friendly environment

On-site Dog Park

Top Dog gym

Sit & Stay Café

On-site coffee bar

Lil’ Paws learning center

Volunteer events with PetSmart Charities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in merchandise planning and allocation required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to influence decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop financial targets for merchandise classes to support company objectives.
• Analyze data to drive profitable actions and set financial plans.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Communication Skills

Collaborative Skills

Self-Starter

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Supply Chain

Tools

JDA Enterprise Planning

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Team

Our Merchandise Planning and Allocation (MP&A) teams are the driving forces behind making the organization’s product visions available to our consumers through calculated and strategic measures. Your involvement in sales and margin forecasts, promotional performance analysis, inventory management, and vendor relationships will play a critical role in obtaining goals while maintaining PetSmart’s reputation in the market as a trusted partner to pet parents.

About the Location

Hybrid Position:

This position may be considered Hybrid based on PetSmart’s FlexSmart policy and business needs. A Hybrid work arrangement is considered to be a blend of onsite and remote work activity. Associates with a Hybrid work arrangement have a work space at Phoenix Home Office and can be required to come onsite between 1-5 days a week as determined by leadership and based on business needs.

About the Job

The Sr. Merchandise Financial Planner is a key leader amongst the merchandise planning group, responsible for developing financial targets at the merchandise class level that support the company’s LRP and financial objectives. This position requires a strong knowledge and background of planning practices and alignment with merchandising, promotional and assortment strategies. This position will leverage the candidates analytical and leadership skill sets to influence the decision-making process and deliver the company’s plan objectives. The Sr. Merchandise Financial Planner will be responsible for using data and predictive analytics to drive profitable course of action and to set the analytical foundation for financial plans and targets. In addition to that, this role will:

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with Sr Merchandise Planning Manager to set and measure financial targets by class for all components of a rolling merchandise forecast (sales, margin, receipts, inventory, and turn).
• Exemplify peer leadership and influence via support and guidance of the financial planning process across all teams and peer groups.
• Collaborate with MP&A, Buying and Sr Digital Merchandise Planner to track merchandise and enterprise initiatives for target setting including a focus on winning in Proprietary Brands.
• Create sustainable planning and forecasting tools for each component of “all in” margin.
• Analyze historical trends to set weekly sales and margin plans.
• Mine and analyze data to create customer centric recommendations and strategies.
• Lead the identification of risk and opportunities and communicate in a timely manner to the business, recommending strategies to achieve financial goals and protect inventory investments.
• Lead plan review discussions to ensure that the company’s financial objectives are being met.
• Integrate all processes and systems (inclusive of reset planning) to fully optimize plan accuracy, efficiency, and inventory productivity.
• Be the planning lead for key national brand accounts and support collaboration through insightful analysis and partnership with the corresponding buying lead.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Manage, facilitate and communicate planning of Sales, Margin, and Inventory Turnover and other KPIs as designated to plan.
• Understand and communicate overall division strategy vision, policies, resources, and execution plans to align to the corporate strategy.
• Use consumer insights and data combined with a structured test and learn approach to identify and maximize growth opportunities.
• Own the end-to-end management of class level merchandise and financial planning, including the optimization of inventory investments, alignment with corporate sales and margin targets and objectives.
• Consistently generate insights that lead to team actions to improve business metrics; influencing pricing, promotions, product assortment in real time.
• Actively create and lead special projects that drive growth opportunities across merchandising.
• Identify process opportunities to create efficiencies in the business and be a key partner to the planning team to implement changes in a timely manner.

EXPERIENCE / EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with a business or supply chain focus. 7 plus years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• JDA Enterprise Planning (or equivalent) experience preferred.
• Demonstrate ability to develop analytical and problem-solving skills (i.e. critical and evaluative thinking) required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal required. Ability to communicate effectively across many levels within the organization.
• Ability to influence decisions by creating a strong case for action, using analytical findings.
• Collaborative Skills: ability to partner across departments to drive decisions.
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills.

About the Culture

At PetSmart, we work hard to create a culture where every associate feels like they truly belong and we celebrate the unique stories, backgrounds, and experiences our associates share. These experiences not only bring new perspectives in shaping our Belonging culture but they’re core to PetSmart’s success.

Not sure if you meet 100% of the position requirements and whether you should apply? We’d still like to hear from you and encourage you to apply with us! You just may be the ideal candidate for this role, and if not this one, perhaps another position.

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

• Pet friendly environment, bring your pets to work!
• On-site Dog Park
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists and personal trainers
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options
• On-site coffee bar
• “Lil’ Paws” learning center and onsite daycare facility (associate paid)
• Volunteer events with PetSmart Charities