Merchandise planner Jobs in Toronto, ON

Job Description

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for developing annual merchandise plans for a given category in partnership with the Planning Manager, Category Manager, and Planning Director. This role will assist in driving the business's overall profitability and lead the weekly forecast planning process, managing Open to Buy and key figures (purchases, returns, inventory, markdowns, etc.). The Merchandise Planner is also responsible for allocating and replenishing merchandise and maintaining inventory integrity at the store level.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Sales & Net Margin
• Inventory Turns and NMROI
• Forecasting accuracy
• EOM Inventory Levels
• Store stock levels and Weeks of supply
• HEAT ticket resolution

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Functional

Assist in the development and implementation of the strategic plan and annual budget

Lead the forecasting process for the assigned categories, including managing and maintaining Open to Buy

Monitor and manage article and program performance

Identify early markdown opportunities on poorly performing items

Assist in managing the performance of the category group

Identify best practices and opportunities for improvement against assortment and trend direction (external / internal research) to contribute to improved category performance and overall business intelligence through recommendations on pricing, inventory levels, promotions, etc., and recommending these actions to the Category Manager and Planning Director

Drive sales and net margin contribution through financial planning and category analysis

Develop regular reports and recommendations based on review and analysis that are shared with the Category Team

Manage replenishment orders

Monitor store stock levels, adjusting allocations for performance trends and inventory levels to maintain target inventory levels.

Recommend re-orders based on sales, on-hand, and support product exit strategy.

Communicate with stores and DC regarding inventory and replenishment questions.

Work with a sense of urgency to identify opportunities based on sales trends.

Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all decision-making and design processes.

Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs

Embrace and seek out technology that creates high-tech and high-touch solutions for Indigo’s customers

Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues, and working to resolve them

People

Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily

Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself

Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage other functions to get input

Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback

Cultural

Model Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do

Celebrate the diversity of thought and have an open mindset

Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes

Embrace, champion, and influence change through your team and / or the organization

SCOPE

Reports to : Manager, Planning & Inventory Management

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal :

Finance

Merchandising

Supply Chain

Retail Operations

Consumer Experience

External :

Vendors

Qualifications

Work Experience / Education / Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or a similar / related field

3 years’ experience in a planning or allocations-related role

Competencies / Skills / Attributes

Advanced Excel skills required

Sound financial and business acumen

Detail-oriented with a strong analytical skill set, quantitatively oriented

Demonstrated abilities in multi-tasking and problem solving

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Understanding of Retail distribution businesses is an asset

Strong ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

Ability to deal with change and uncertainty

Strong ability to work across functional groups

Ability to negotiate and influence peers effectively

Additional Information

At Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at Support-HR@indigo.ca if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.

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