Associate Planner

Overview

The organization is seeking an Associate Merchandise Planner responsible for the Women’s Plus Bottoms forecast from pre-season planning through in-season management. This role builds financial plans, forecasts, and performance analyses that support sales, inventory productivity, and profitability across Fix and Freestyle. Reporting to a Planning Manager, you will partner with Buying and collaborate with Allocation, Operations, Engineering, and Data Science to identify risks and opportunities, prepare decision-ready insights, and take action on the business.

Responsibilities

• Own financial planning and forecasting within Women’s Plus Bottoms, including pre-season planning and in-season forecasting across Fix and Freestyle, maintaining accurate sales, inventory, receipt, and gross margin goals.
• Analyze business performance across Fix and Freestyle by evaluating sales, inventory, product performance, and profitability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and recommend actions.
• Manage the rolling operating financial forecast (OTB/ROF) in partnership with Buying, including receipt-flow and inventory analysis that balances business opportunities, inventory liability, and the client experience.
• Build scenario analyses and business recaps to support in-season decision-making, including weekly, monthly, and quarterly results, changing forecasts, and actions in response to evolving business needs.
• Partner cross-functionally and use modern tools and technology to improve planning processes and business outcomes, working with Buying, Allocation, Operations, Engineering, and Data Science; use Excel, planning systems, and AI-enabled solutions to increase efficiency, strengthen analysis, and support decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, finance, merchandising, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 2–4 years of experience in merchandise planning, allocation, buying, merchandising, e-commerce, retail analytics, or a related analytical function.
• Foundational understanding of retail math, merchandise financial planning, inventory management, and profitability KPIs, with the ability to learn and apply both top-down and bottom-up planning.
• Strong Excel and Google Sheets skills, with the ability to organize data, build analyses, identify meaningful insights, and communicate clear takeaways.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work through changing priorities, bring a point of view, and build effective cross-functional partnerships.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot, and interest in applying new technologies to improve efficiency, analysis, and business outcomes.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment—balancing multiple priorities, incomplete information, and changing business needs—while maintaining strong attention to detail and a bias toward action.
• This position may require the ability to sit for extended periods of time, use a computer or other office equipment, and communicate effectively (verbal and written).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in apparel, e-commerce, omnichannel retail, merchandise planning, allocation, or buying.
• Familiarity with Anaplan, Looker, SQL, BI tools, or retail planning systems.
• Experience using automation or AI-enabled tools to improve merchandise planning, forecasting, reporting, or repeatable workflows.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Salary range for US-based employees: $70,900—$118,000 USD.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits are available.

Location

US-based employees (salary range applies based on geographic area).