Sr Category Management Planner

The Michael's Companies; Irving, Northern (TX, KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Michaels Companies in Irving, TX seeks a Senior Category Management Planner to partner with the Category Manager and Category Director to optimize sales, gross margin and inventory. You will use MFP for weekly planning and support seasonal and basic assortments.

Responsibilities include in-season MD recommendations, SKU and forward-buy evaluation, and collaboration with finance and replenishment to execute resets and seasonal strategies.

Qualifications

• Minimum experience: 2-5 years in retail.
• Analytical, organizational, communication, collaborative, self-motivational, and good time management skills.
• Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, retail, or related field (preferred).
• Microsoft Office knowledge, especially Excel; planning system skills preferred.
• 2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide CD/CM with analysis and recommendations to optimize sales, gross margin and inventory.
• Create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs using Michaels Financial Planning (MFP).
• Own MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans; correct errors and propose wave breaks.
• Work with pricing and CD/CM to make in-season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product.
• Evaluate forward buys on market deals and opportunities; develop timelines and assist with resets.
• Assist assortment planning and participate in reviews for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical data.

Job description

Support Center - IrvingThe Senior Category Management Planner is key business partner with Category Manager and Category Director (CM/CD) to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin and inventory.**Analysis:*** Provide CD/CM with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory, in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans* Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in department strategies* Optimize seasonal inventory flow in season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets* Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals**Purchase Planning:*** Using MFP (Michaels Financial Planning), create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs* Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans* Incorporates correction of errors* Recommend \"wave breaks\" for seasonal flow* Recommend optimal inner and master packs* Work with pricing and CD/CM to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product* Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities* Develop and adhere to critical timelines**Assortment Planning:*** Insure assortments are completed within specific timeframes* Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information* Make appropriate recommendations**Reset Support:*** Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline* Implement discontinue timing* Implement order placement timing for new product with CD/CM and replenishment team* Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast* Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials**Other duties as assigned**Minimum Type of experience the job requires* 2-5 years in retail* Numerical analysis; collaborative activities; project managementOther* Analytical, organizational, communication, collaborative, self-motivational, and good time management skills required* Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks* Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraintsPreferred Education* Bachelor’s degree or equivalent* Business, retail or related fieldPreferred Special Certifications or technical skills* Microsoft Office knowledge, especially Excel. Planning system skills preferredPreferred Type of experience the job requires* 2+ in retail planning or allocation preferred**Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.**