Manager, Merchandise Analytics

Overview

This role owns the enterprise post-season and post-launch analytical discipline for the Merchandise organization. The position establishes the rigor used to look backward—measuring what actually happened against what was planned—so forward-looking plans are grounded in evidence rather than intuition.

You will build and maintain a “hindsight” framework across assortment performance, promotional effectiveness, sales and margin forecast accuracy, and new product introduction outcomes. Findings will be translated into specific, actionable recommendations that feed into assortment planning, pricing strategy, and demand planning cycles.

The ideal candidate is analytically rigorous, comfortable working with SKU-level data, and able to present a clear performance narrative to Merchant and Planning leadership.

Responsibilities

Hindsight Framework & Reporting

• Own the hindsight calendar and cadence by establishing and managing recurring post-season, post-promotion, and post-launch review processes across all merchandise categories
• Build standardized hindsight templates for sell-through, margin realization, forecast accuracy, markdown effectiveness, and inventory productivity
• Maintain data lineage and definitions to ensure consistent metrics, reliable data sourcing, and comparability period over period
• Prepare and present the hindsight package to Merchants, Planning, and senior leadership with clear, prioritized recommendations

Performance Analysis

• Conduct assortment hindsight: quantify SKU and category-level productivity, identify winners/underperformers, and surface structural patterns to inform the next assortment cycle
• Conduct promotional and pricing hindsight: measure incrementality and margin impact of promotional events and pricing actions; distinguish true lift from pull-forward and cannibalization
• Conduct new product introduction (NPI) hindsight: evaluate NPI performance against pre-launch forecast and go/no-go criteria; feed learnings back into the forecasting framework
• Measure demand forecast accuracy and bias by category, item, and horizon; partner with Demand Planning on root-cause and remediation
• Measure margin forecast accuracy and bias by category, item, and horizon; partner on root-cause and remediation

Insight to Action

• Close the loop by ensuring hindsight findings are documented, owned, and translated into changes in assortment, pricing, or planning assumptions—not just reported
• Partner with merchant teams as an analytical thought partner, framing findings constructively and focusing on decisions they should change
• Continuously improve the hindsight framework as data availability, tooling, and business questions evolve

Success Metrics

Within the first 12 months, the role will be evaluated on:

• Adoption: Hindsight reviews established as a standing input to assortment and pricing planning cycles across all major categories
• Actionability: A documented decision log showing specific plan changes driven by hindsight findings
• Forecast Accuracy: Established baseline measurement of forecast accuracy and bias, with a demonstrated improvement trend

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Statistics, Economics, or a related analytical field
• 6+ years of experience in financial analysis, merchandise finance, retail analytics, FP&A, banking, or a comparable analytical role
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau
• Ability to translate complex analysis into concise, actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences
• Strong communication skills and ability to present findings clearly to cross-functional leadership
• Strong attention to detail, with discipline to maintain consistent definitions and reproducible analysis
• High standards for accuracy and analytical integrity, with the ability to move quickly without sacrificing either
• Ability to work calmly in a fast-paced team environment while managing multiple concurrent workstreams

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience designing or significantly improving post-season or hindsight processes
• Proficiency in SQL or a comparable data query language
• Experience with enterprise planning tools such as Oracle, Hyperion, or similar
• Experience with enterprise resource planning software such as SAP
• Experience in furniture, home, or big-ticket retail

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay

• $105,000 - $130,000 (Expected base pay; not including potential commissions, incentive, bonus, etc.)

Benefits & Perks

• Nationally provided Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, holidays, work anniversary, and your birthday
• 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan with a generous company match
• Pet insurance
• Employer-paid basic life insurance, with option to add voluntary life insurance
• Financial planning, voluntary legal benefits, and wellness plans
• Generous employee discount starting on your 1st day
• Additional employee discounts through an online discount program offering hundreds of discounts from favorite merchants

Location

Not specified in the provided job description.