Sr Planner

Ulta Beauty; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 103,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Job summary

Ulta Beauty in Bolingbrook, IL, is seeking a Senior Planner to lead merchandise planning and inventory strategy across brands, guiding weekly, monthly and annual plans and partnering with merchants and external brands to meet financial targets.

You will develop assortment plans, forecast sales, monitor KPIs, and drive improvements with the MPI team, while coaching Analysts and aligning with Ulta Beauty’s values and vision.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in merchandise planning, supply chain, finance and/or inventory.
• 2+ years of people management preferred.
• Strong financial and analytical aptitude with knowledge of sales, margin and turn.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights to improve performance.
• Excellent communication and negotiation with internal and external partners.
• Autonomy and ability to work without supervision.
• Ability to manage end-to-end inventory processes and KPIs.
• Ability to influence and drive change.
• Align with Ulta Beauty values and team culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of merchandise plans and inventory strategies for all brands under portfolio.
• Provide strategic direction on assortment plans, sales forecast, and inventory strategies to drive growth and achieve KPIs.
• Establish partnerships with external brands and negotiate with clear financial justifications.
• Collaborate with internal merchants to grow the business using market insights and data.
• Partner with FPA to analyze margins and receipts impacting bottom line.
• Oversee end-to-end inventory processes and monitor KPIs to identify opportunities.
• Foster a high-performance, values-driven MPI team culture.
• Lead tentpole events and enterprise initiatives for the MPI department.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Data analysis

Inventory management

Team development

Change management

Job description

Overview

Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S. and an innovative omni-channel ecosystem, Ulta Beauty is revolutionizing the beauty retail experience. Ulta Beauty is expanding its digital capabilities, opening new stores on a continual basis and re-designing existing locations with the latest design and technological advancements for heightened guest experiences. We’re not just growing, we’re thriving through consistent innovation and a bold commitment to re-imagination. If you want the opportunity to build something strategic, to take ownership of your career trajectory, to apply your passion to operational excellence, Ulta Beauty provides the kind of stability and support few organizations can match. So be curious. Be flexible. Be more than you thought possible. The future is yours at Ulta Beauty.

Overview

Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S. and an innovative omni-channel ecosystem, Ulta Beauty is revolutionizing the beauty retail experience. Ulta Beauty is expanding its digital capabilities, opening new stores on a continual basis and re-designing existing locations with the latest design and technological advancements for heightened guest experiences. We’re not just growing, we’re thriving through consistent innovation and a bold commitment to re-imagination. If you want the opportunity to build something strategic, to take ownership of your career trajectory, to apply your passion to operational excellence, Ulta Beauty provides the kind of stability and support few organizations can match. So be curious. Be flexible. Be more than you thought possible. The future is yours at Ulta Beauty.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE

As a Senior Planner, your financial and analytical aptitude will enable you to develop and execute comprehensive merchandise plans while maintaining strong partnerships with internal merchants and external brands. You will oversee all aspects of planning and inventory management for all brands under your portfolio and lead a team to achieve the strategic and financial objectives of the enterprise. By taking a lead role in enterprise projects and initiatives, you’ll enable Ulta Beauty and the MP&I department to be bigger, better, together.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY

• Lead the development and execution of merchandise plans (weekly, monthly, annual) and inventory strategies for all brands under portfolio
• Provide strategic direction and guidance to team in developing assortment plans, sales forecast, inventory strategies to drive and grow the business while achieving KPI’s
• Establish and maintain credible partnerships with external brands, share monthly projections, advocate for what’s best for the business, and engage in critical negotiations while providing clear financial justifications for decisions
• Partner with internal merchants to grow and drive the business. Analyze market trends, historical data and customer/sales insights to drive the business
• Partner with FPA to provide insights into changes (margins, receipts) that impact overall financial performance and ensure decisions are made with a thorough understanding of the impact on the bottom line
• Manage end-to-end inventory process by communicating inventory strategies and direction to Inventory Analysts. Monitor KPIs and conduct regular analysis to identify opportunities and make recommendations
• Foster a team culture that is results-oriented and exemplifies a team mentality that aligns to Ulta Beauty’s Values, Mission and Vision
• Take a lead role in tentpole events and/or enterprise initiatives, representing the MPI department

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS

• 6+ years of professional, relevant experience in merchandise planning, supply chain, finance and/or inventory
• 2+ years of people management experience preferred
• Financial and analytical aptitude and a deep understanding of financial metrics (sales, margin, turn, receipt planning)
• Provides accurate, actionable and forward-looking insights to improve business and sales performance; creates competitive and breakthrough strategies
• Navigates crucial conversations with internal and external partners with minimal supervision
• Capable of driving favorable outcomes through strong influence and confidence in negotiations
• Effectively communicates and collaborates with internal and external partners
• Achieves high levels of autonomy and self-reliance, working effectively and efficiently without supervision
• Ability to make well-informed decisions through the evaluation of large quantities of data, discovery of trends and development of actionable insights
• Ability to comprehend complex issues and approach situations in a logical and structured manner
• Delivers constructive feedback, guidance, and resources with excellent coaching skills and team development abilities
• Solid understanding of inventory activities and best practices
• A desire to conduct stretch assignments to improve our internal and external competitive edge
• Promotes and champions change and process improvements
• Approaches interactions, decisions, and challenges with a constructive, optimistic mindset

The pay range for this position is $102,900.00 - $135,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

About

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.