Strategic Merchandise Planner — Forecast & Optimize Inventory

Petco; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards

401K

PTO

Job summary

Petco is seeking a Merchandise Planner to drive top-line growth through strategic planning and data-driven forecasting. You will partner with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations to optimize assortment, inventory, and profitability.

This role requires strong analytical skills, retail know-how, and hands-on experience with planning tools. Located in Austin, TX or remote, the position offers the Petco Total Rewards benefits and opportunities for cross-functional impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, preferably in specialty retail.
• Experience with omnichannel retail and inventory optimization tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain merchandise financial plans by category, season, and store/channel.
• Forecast sales, margin, and inventory targets based on historical data and market trends.
• Collaborate with buying teams to build assortments that align with brand strategy and customer demand.
• Monitor inventory levels and recommend replenishment strategies to minimize stockouts and overstocks.
• Partner with allocation teams to ensure optimal product distribution across stores and channels.
• Identify slow-moving items and propose markdowns, promotions, or reallocation strategies.
• Analyze performance metrics including sell-through, turn, margin, and ROI.
• Prepare weekly/monthly business reviews and present insights to cross-functional teams.
• Support pricing and promotional strategies to maximize profitability.
• Work closely with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams.
• Provide planning input for product launches, seasonal campaigns, and store openings.
• Communicate inventory risks and opportunities to leadership.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Retail Acumen

Communication

Technical Proficiency

Strategic Mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Finance, or related field

Tools

JDA

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Petco is seeking a Merchandise Planner to drive top-line growth through strategic planning and data-driven forecasting. You will partner with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations to optimize assortment, inventory, and profitability.

This role requires strong analytical skills, retail know-how, and hands-on experience with planning tools. Located in Austin, TX or remote, the position offers the Petco Total Rewards benefits and opportunities for cross-functional impact.