Senior Retail Merchandising & Planning Transformation Lead

Accenture; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 317,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture's Retail Merchandising and Planning practice seeks a Strategy Senior Manager to lead transformation engagements for retailers, shaping strategy and driving results with executive sponsors.

You will oversee end-to-end planning capabilities, apply AI-enabled decision making, and develop roadmaps across category management, MFP, assortment, and replenishment. This role blends client leadership with hands-on delivery in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in professional merchandising planning or related field.
• 2+ years in professional services at a consulting firm.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Ability to lead large programs with multiple workstreams.
• Strong client management and communication skills.
• Experience applying AI tools in a professional context.
• Familiarity with planning platforms (o9, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, Oracle, RELEX).
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation engagements for retail clients and shape strategy.
• Orchestrate delivery across cross-functional teams spanning strategy, process, data/technology, and change management.
• Own client relationships, including executive sponsors and ensure alignment across views.
• Ensure engagement quality, timeliness, and profitability.
• Lead assessments of current-state merchandising, planning, and inventory capabilities.
• Design future-state operating models for category management, MFP, assortment planning, allocation, replenishment, demand & supply planning.
• Develop capability roadmaps and value cases for change.
• Apply sub-industry nuance to tailor recommendations.
• Bring AI/analytics and planning tech to solve business problems.
• Support business development and proposal efforts.
• Coach and develop junior team members.

Skills

Category Management

Merchandise Financial Planning

Assortment Planning

Allocation

Replenishment

Demand Planning

Supply Planning

AI in Merchandising

Program Leadership

Client Management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

o9

Blue Yonder

Anaplan

Oracle

RELEX

Claude

ChatGPT

Copilot

Gemini

Job description

Accenture's Retail Merchandising and Planning practice seeks a Strategy Senior Manager to lead transformation engagements for retailers, shaping strategy and driving results with executive sponsors.

You will oversee end-to-end planning capabilities, apply AI-enabled decision making, and develop roadmaps across category management, MFP, assortment, and replenishment. This role blends client leadership with hands-on delivery in a dynamic environment.