Senior Merchandise Planner - Retail

Citizen Watch Company; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Citizen Watch Company is seeking a Senior Retail Merchandise Planner to manage the retail division's financial objectives through store-level inventory productivity analysis. You will drive reporting and analytics to improve inventory planning, sales planning, merchandise planning and margin achievement, targeting Sales, Gross Margin, Inventory Turn and Shrinkage with precise, timely output.

The role requires strong organizational, analytical, and Excel/Access skills, collaboration with

Qualifications

• Strong retail math, analytical and financial acumen.
• Experience with forecasting and inventory planning.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Access and Excel (Pivot Tables, V-lookups).
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and communicate clearly.
• Comfort with fast-paced environments and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Drive decisions to meet gross margin, sales, markdown and profit goals through inventory management and assortment planning.
• Manage accuracy of inventory receiving, KPIs, audits and controls with cross-functional communication.
• Develop weekly analyses comparing Actual vs Plan and LY; identify trends and replenishment needs.
• Oversee POs, replenishment orders and store planning in KWI system; ensure accurate PO receiving.

Skills

Retail math

Analytical thinking

Forecasting

Inventory planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Access

Excel

AS400

Job description

Hybrid office hours - in office Mondays through Thursdays, remote on Fridays

Summary

The Senior Retail Merchandise planner is responsible for managing the retail division financial objectives through analysis of the productivity of store level inventories. Responsible for continuation of report development to drive improved results for inventory planning, sales planning, merchandise planning and margin achievement. Targets include achieve planned Sales, Gross Margin, Inventory Turn and Shrinkage, with accuracy of work product.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following: Other duties may be assigned.

• Drive decisions leading to achieving gross margin, sales, markdown and profit goals through effective inventory management, product assortment planning and sales planning.
• Achieve inventory shrinkage goals by managing accuracy of product receiving, KWI adjustments, audits and controls, and by maintaining constant communication with store line, Accounting, Inventory and Shipping Departments.
• Develop and prepare weekly analysis tracking Actual vs. Plan and LY, stock to sales ratio, identify market trends, best sellers, re-order requirements and stock balancing and action solutions leading to improved sell-through and reduction of aged and unproductive inventory.
• Develop OTB platform to manage appropriate store inventory levels.
• Prepare weekly/biweekly reorders for store replenishment, cross reference to ensure market status availability, partner with planning department to clear models and enter finalized replenishment orders into KWI.
• Prepare opening assortments, purchase orders, and receiving for new stores/renovations/pop ups.
• Partner with IT/Customer Care/WS Planning team to ensure purchase orders EDI correctly, troubleshoot and resolve any problems to ensure purchase orders can be fulfilled.
• Lead development of 09 best practices for retail in concert with WS planning team.
• Manage all Purchase order communication to store teams - providing copies of purchase orders, purchase order receiving logs, troubleshoot problem shipments, manual receiving, and verify PO receiving accuracy.
• Meet weekly with Retail Team to review business, provide Team with financial information for the week while suggesting tactical adjustments based on current trends to drive business and manage inventories.
• Re-forecast and/or create "what if" scenarios to support changes in business strategies.
• Identify innovative suggestions on methods to improve business processes.
• Communicate pertinent information such as product performance, delivery updates, returns, damages, re-orders, transfers, exclusives, and other related product movements to store line.
• Lead in development of new tools for analyzing and managing the business.
• Responsible to oversee damage process. customer repairs, borrows, or other methods of inventory adjustments.
• Responsible for overseeing running daily Flash Reports, KWI reports, entering PO in KWI system and updating daily store plans.
• Responsible for monitoring and insuring accuracy of KWI retail system, including sku maintenance, item specs, classifications, and prices.
• Remain open to other department projects or needs.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to handle multiple priorities
• Demonstrate strong retail math, analytical and financial acumen and problem-solving skills.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Access and Excel - Pivot Tables, V-lookups, and AS400.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to perform in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to build and maintain productive relationships with cross functional teams.
• Strong work ethic with a commitment to achieving targeted objectives
• Experience working with products and analytics on a granular level.
• Able to be flexible and available for any company project (sample sales, flash sales, pop up shops, etc.).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university; or five to seven years related experience in a mid to large size company in a planning or reporting capacity; or equivalent combination of education and experience.