Strategic Merchandise Planner

Bath & Body Works; Reynoldsburg (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401(k) match

Stock Purchase Program

Paid time off

Parental leave

Discount on products

Scholarship opportunities

Care.com subscription

Wellness center

Job summary

Bath & Body Works seeks an Associate Planner to analyze, track, and report on data to help shape merchandise plans for a category. You will collaborate with planning managers and planners to develop pre-season and in-season strategies, considering trends, promotions, and assortment changes.

The role emphasizes forecasting accuracy, financial perspective on assortment, and coordination with inventory, central planning, and other MP&A functions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in: retail merchandise planning, demand planning, inventory management, allocation or replenishment, financial planning or financial analysis experience
• Excellent understanding of merchandise as it relates to company strategy
• Excellent communication, prioritizing and problem-solving skills
• Keen ability to interact with peers and merchants
• Expertise in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, complex formulas, and creating dynamic reports.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Word and Access
• System skills capabilities and proficiency in Data Warehouse and MSI tools preferred; other retail planning systems experience
• Bachelor's degree in finance, operations, economics, business, statistics or equivalent experience
• Core Competencies: Drives Results, Action Oriented, Collaborates, Decision Making, Nimble Learning

Responsibilities

• Cultivate the ability to work effectively under stressful and changing circumstances
• Set high personal performance standards that deliver results, convey a sense of urgency and enthusiasm for the business, and help achieve objectives despite obstacles or opposition
• Develop forecasts for new skus and strategize assortment from a financial perspective
• Basic understanding of retail supply chain management inclusive of inventory planning
• Review and analyze business performance trends
• Maintain SKU level forecasts that are updated monthly or more frequently based on needs of the business, inclusive of units, sales dollars, and margin. Identifies trend changes and impacts to business
• Collaborate with Inventory Planners and Inventory Deployment Analyst to ensure plan alignment with forecasting systems
• Work with Central Planning in identifying targets for pre-season and in-season
• Present business trends and forecast to management in monthly MPR (Monthly Planning Review)
• Aid Merchandise Planner in developing long term forecasts to act as basis for seasonal architecture to meet business needs
• Review and provide forecast hind sighting for season for cross-functional team
• Actively pursue growth and development opportunities, continually finding ways to improve
• Communicate openly and directly; accept responsibility and champion ideas despite challenges
• Champion change, taking risks as needed and demonstrating flexibility
• Encourage innovation, creativity and risk-taking through influence in teams
• Foster teamwork by being a valued teammate and building good relationships across functional and division lines

Skills

Forecasting

Merchandise planning

Communication

Problem solving

Excel data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Data Warehouse

MSI tools

Job description

Bath & Body Works seeks an Associate Planner to analyze, track, and report on data to help shape merchandise plans for a category. You will collaborate with planning managers and planners to develop pre-season and in-season strategies, considering trends, promotions, and assortment changes.

The role emphasizes forecasting accuracy, financial perspective on assortment, and coordination with inventory, central planning, and other MP&A functions.