Planning, forecasting and allocating product are the crucial first steps in the product's journey to our clients. It takes analytical, strategic, and results-oriented inventory management professionals to build our brand partnerships, forecast client behaviors and optimize inventory levels across our network. Operations and logistics complete the products' journey into our clients' hands. Our energetic and innovative team continually improves speed and accuracy on our promise to our clients in a fast growing and ever-evolving marketplace. It's one thing to create experiences — but the key is in delivering them.

Your role:
As a Merchandise Planner, you will manage Brand Planning for both pre-season and in season timeframes to ensure in stock targets are met. Reporting to the Manager, Inventory Planning, you will be the financial partner with the Merchant to grow and drive business.  In addition, you will: 

• Create pre-season Brand Budget Plans partnering with Inventory Directors, Merchants, and Vendors
• Develop New Brand strategies, projected sales, inventory by SKU needs, and order flow set ups for launch timeframe
• Own newness/launch hindsight, sales projections and buys to support all merchandising and promo strategies, partnering with Merchandising team & Vendors
• Own accurate monthly in season OTB sales, gm%, receipt, and inventory adjustment projections
• Reconcile OTB Sales and Receipt projections to Replenishment/Demand Planning system forecasts
• Present and lead monthly cross-functional OTB meeting
• Partner with Demand Planning on forecast alignment and strategy
• Validate productive assortment by analysis and recommendations of presentation, items to discontinue, and items to develop, within productivity guidelines in collaboration with Merchandising Team
• Analyze and validate sales and inventory needs for Key Initiatives, Animations and promotions
• Develop liquidation strategy on exit brands/collections or overstock
• Partner and drive allocation strategy with the Allocation team to support inventory merchandise strategy for newness, animation and events/promos
• Consistent communication with vendors on sales performance, in stocks, and outstanding issues
• Provide OTB and SKU forecasts to vendors to gain targeted vendor fill rate
• Provide guidance on any supply chain matter
• Report updated business trends and stock continuity weekly
• Conduct Newness hindsight and key initiatives analysis on a seasonal basis
• Demonstrate our client’s values of Passion for Client Service, Innovation, Expertise, Balance, Respect for All, Teamwork, and Initiative
• Partner and guide Merchandise Planning Assistant to prioritize newness/important orders, elevate and communicate delays in key launches

We're excited about you if you have:

• 2-5 years of Planning experience
• Excellent technical skills - MS Office (specifically Excel, Word)
• Contributes new ideas and finds solutions to business challenges in merchandising, operations and finance
• Proven ability to interpret and synthesize data into intelligent business decisions
• Must be detail-oriented, with strong organizational and task management skills
• Clear and concise written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Good negotiation skills
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to handle multiple priorities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, often-changing environment
• Flexible; team player

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $20.00 to $22.97 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! 

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

WORKING WITH AQUENT: long-term assignments with Aquent gets you access to some pretty cool things:
– You’re paid weekly
– Subsidized health (including term life and LTD) and dental benefits after your first four weeks of work (averaging at least 20 hrs/wk)
– Access to Fidelity 401(k)
– Access to FSA Program
– Direct deposit for your pay check
– Access to our Talent Rewards Program (we reward for referrals!)
– Access to free online courses via Aquent’s Gymnasium, to help you develop your skills: http://gymnasium.aquent.com/
– Access to free online courses via Lynda.com
– Aquent support: your Aquent Agent checks in with you during the course of your contract to make sure you’re happy and progressing according to your expectations (we’re also there to be looking for new opportunities for you when you’re close to wrapping up)