Merchandise Planner - Swim (Remote)

This role is eligible to be performed remotely, however, if you reside within 60 miles of Lands’ End’s office in Dodgeville, WI or New York City, you will be expected to collaborate onsite in a hybrid fashion for up to 12 days per month.

As a Merchandise Planner for Swim, you will be responsible for the generation and management of Lands’ End product forecasts and managing inventory. You will interact on a regular basis with merchandising, sourcing and the sales team to manage the strategic financial plans by category and client. Other responsibilities include analyzing historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning and identifying risk and opportunities by category; conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis; and managing processes to meet risk inventory and fulfillment goals.  

• Develop, execute and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising, marketing and financial objectives and strategies of a division/categories.
• Support overall company and brand objectives to drive financial results that maximize sales, margin, and inventory.
• Prioritize and manage expectations around key deliverables with cross-functional team, direct reports and peers.
• Collaborate with internal sales team and external clients to build and execute seasonal sale plans.
• Compile and present as needed to client review of sales and inventory ownership – may require travel.
• Accountability to delivering to financial metrics within client contracts – such as first time fulfillment, aged inventory levels.
• Analyze historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning.
• Reconcile tops-down and bottoms-up plans, and appearance plans.
• Develop monthly forecasts of sales, margin and inventory and develop strategies to meet category financial goals (OTB).
• Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to director and cross-functional team on a weekly basis, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis.
• Providing markdown analysis and recommendations through product lifecycle.
• Manage key milestones – business review, book close, etc. 
• Spearhead continuous improvement initiatives, collaborating with peers to ensure consistency of information, share best practices and develop tools/systems knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (economics, finance, marketing, etc.) or equivalent work experience.
• A minimum of 5 years  of experience in inventory management or related position.
• A solid understanding of common planning and forecasting processes and procedures.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient use of Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and other PC based applications.
• Strong relationship building, collaboration skills and presentation skills.