Sr. Manager, Merchandising Planning & Analysis

Office Depot / ODP; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Office Depot / ODP in Boca Raton seeks a Sr. Manager, Merchandising Planning & Analysis to drive data-driven growth across Retail, E-commerce, and B2B channels.

You will lead analytics to inform assortment strategies, optimize lifecycles, and support competitive pricing and promotions. This role partners with Merchandising, Product Management, Pricing, Inventory Accounting, Supply Chain, and Marketing to align category plans with business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in business, finance, or merchandising.
• 7+ years of merchandising planning or related retail planning experience.
• Proficient in Excel; experience with planning software such as JDA, Oracle, SAP.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) is a plus.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.

Responsibilities

• Owns and publishes detailed sales and margin forecasts for assigned categories.
• Develops assortments and manages lifecycle across Retail, E-commerce, and B2B channels.
• Analyzes pricing impacts and supports promotional strategies.
• Collaborates across Merchandising, Marketing, Pricing, Inventory Accounting, and Supply Chain.
• Champions process improvements and adoption of AI tools to enhance forecasting.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Acumen

Collaboration & Influence

Results Orientation

Adaptability

Leadership

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

MBA or advanced degree a plus

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

JDA

Oracle

SAP

Excel

Job description

The Sr. Manager, Merchandising Planning & Analysis is is a key driver of profitable growth and operational excellence across Retail, E-commerce, and B2B channels. This role leverages data and analytics to inform assortment strategies, optimize product lifecycles, and support competitive pricing and promotional decisions. Working closely with cross-functional teams-including Merchandising, Product Management, Pricing, Inventory Accounting, Supply Chain, and Marketing-the role ensures category plans align with business objectives and market trends. They are responsible for developing accurate sales and margin forecasts, analyzing category performance, and providing actionable insights that influence critical business decisions, while also managing the end-to-end product lifecycle to maximize profitability and minimize risk. Although the role does not directly manage open-to-buy budgets or execute purchasing and allocation decisions, they serve as a vital thought partner to those functions, ensuring inventory, pricing, and promotional strategies are informed by robust analysis and market intelligence. The role also champions process improvement and innovation, including the adoption of advanced analytics and AI tools to enhance data visibility, forecasting accuracy, and decision-making. This highly collaborative and strategic position requires strong business acumen, attention to detail, and the ability to influence without direct authority. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is passionate about continuous improvement, and plays a crucial role in shaping the future success of the merchandising organization.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Analytics & Forecasting
• Owns and publishes detailed sales and margin forecasts for assigned categories, integrating insights from Merchants, Finance, and other stakeholders. Conducts in-depth analysis of sales trends, inventory performance, and assortment productivity. Monitors key profitability drivers-including COGS, marketplace fees, and distribution expenses-to ensure positive variable profit and support data-driven decision making. Develops and maintains reporting dashboards to communicate results and opportunities to leadership.
• Assortment & Lifecycle Management
• Partners with Merchandising and Product teams to develop, optimize, and rationalize product assortments across Retail, E-commerce, and B2B channels. Manages product lifecycle transitions, including introductions, exits, and end-of-life strategies, with a focus on maximizing profitability and minimizing margin erosion. Collaborates with Inventory Accounting to assess reserve levels and balance discounting strategies for discontinued items. Conducts competitive and market analysis to inform assortment decisions.
• Pricing & Promotional Strategy
• Collaborates with Pricing teams to ensure competitive and profitable pricing strategies. Analyzes pricing impacts and recommends adjustments to drive sales and margin improvement. Supports the planning, execution, and post-analysis of promotional activities, evaluating effectiveness and identifying future opportunities. Provides recommendations for pricing and promotional tactics based on data and market trends.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Works closely with Merchandising, Marketing, Pricing, Inventory Accounting, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment on product launches, promotions, assortment changes, and lifecycle management. Acts as a key liaison to gather inputs, share insights, and drive consensus on business strategies. Facilitates communication and alignment across functions to support seamless execution.
• Process Improvement & Innovation
• Identifies and implements process improvements to enhance merchandising planning, reporting, and execution. Champions the adoption of new tools and technologies-including AI-to improve data visibility, forecasting accuracy, and decision-making. Continuously seeks opportunities to streamline workflows and drive operational excellence.

Education and Experience:

• Level of Formal Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Area of Study: Business, Finance, Merchandising, or related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum Years of Experience: 7
• Type of Experience: merchandise planning, inventory management, or related retail planning roles. Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is a plus
• Technical Competencies & Information Systems: Strong analytical and quantitative skills; proficiency in Excel and planning software (e.g., JDA, Oracle, SAP).
• Skills & Abilities:
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Acumen
• Collaboration & Influence
• Results Orientation
• Adaptability
• Leadership
• Additional Language Skills: Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Personal Attributes & Other/Preferred: Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solvin