GENERAL SUMMARY: Coordinate and manage the development, execution and communication of merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising, marketing, and financial objectives of a division. Develop and drive financial strategies to maximize business opportunities and mitigate risks, in partnership with cross-functional team. Lead the seasonal planning and in-season management processes for a division. Participate in Company initiatives to evolve the merchandise planning organization. Manage the activities and career development of the Planning division.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.OPERATIONS/FINANCIAL
• Manage the financial success of the division / sub-brand by meeting sales, comp, gross margin, gross margin return on investment and inventory turn goals.
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• Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risk and opportunity for the division.
• Collaborate with the merchant teams to develop and communicate a comprehensive pre-season strategy that aligns financial and product opportunities across the division.
• Manage pre-season planning process and review divisional financial plans. Ensure division / department plans support brand strategies.
• Manage the reconciliation of department targets and bottom-up plans.
• Own open to buy forecasts. Validate and present department financial forecast and strategies in OTB/MF process.
• Identify risks and opportunities across key product categories.
• Coach and train managers / planners to identify key learnings and develop future strategies.
• Analyze financial performance to pre-season strategies and recommend strategic business shifts as required.
• Review markdown recommendations to ensure alignment with financial strategies.
• Participate in and/or lead company and brand initiatives.
2.COMMUNICATION
• Represent divisional point of view in key meetings.
• Communicate key timelines, deliverables, and expectations to planning and cross-functional team members in a timely manner.
• Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to Director / Sr. Director and cross-functional team on a weekly basis.
• Partner with cross-functional counterparts to develop and communicate tactical plans to achieve timelines and deliverables.
3.PEOPLE LEADERSHIP
• Set priorities, foster teamwork and set expectations for direct reports.
• Effectively manage and support the career development process of staff to ensure job satisfaction and retention.
• Provide timely and actionable feedback and direction to direct reports to foster rapid skill development, to identify strengths, and to improve performance.
• Lead goal-setting process to meet brand and individual development objectives.
• Recognize and reward quality performance.
Provide Director / Sr. Director with timely feedback on personal developmental and training needs.
• Develop bench-strength by identifying and facilitating training opportunities.
• Participate in resource and succession planning by giving feedback to Director / Sr. Director.
• Participate in Company recruiting and management training initiatives.
• Actively participate in brand/company sponsored planner training program (P&D training, RMP).
ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIP
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of cross-functional team (merchandising, allocation, visual, production, planning, company planning)
- Ensure planning function can actively participate in and lead a collaborative process.
- Develop and maintain cross-divisional peer relationships to share best practices and align processes.
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, results-oriented work environment.
- Ensure planning and cross-functional goals are aligned.
- Lead teams to make and support timely, results-oriented decisions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Able to negotiate and influence effectively
- Able to effectively lead and develop results-oriented team
- Consistently prioritize and manage division workload and processes to meet company objectives
- Able to effectively manage and resolve conflict
- Able to give timely and actionable feedback to direct reports
- Able to develop, train, and motivate individuals
- Able to accurately assess employee strengths and developmental needs
- Able to communicate effectively and clearly, reflecting an appropriate sense of urgency.
- Build and maintain productive cross-functional relationships to drive business and create teams.
- Proactively identify business issues and develop creative solutions
- Able to deliver convincing presentations that clearly identify business issues and advise decisions to all levels of management
- Facility with personal computers, including the ability to leverage available resources and technical applications.
- Proficiency in Excel, Access a plus
2. Minimum educational level:
- Bachelors degree or equivalent experience required
- Advanced degree preferred
3. Previous experience desired:
- 2-3 years experience as a Planning Manager or equivalent
- 4-6 years of retail buying, planning or equivalent experience
- 2-3 years experience managing a team
4. Physical Requirement
- Must be able to operate a computer
- Able to travel internationally or domestically for up to two weeks at a time.