Position Details:
Title: Associate Merchandise Planner
Department: Business Planning
Reports to: Manager, Planning
Location: Dearborn
Job Classification: Remote
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Band: Professional
Job Summary
The Associate Merchandise Planner develops, manages and executes sales, inventory and margin plans that tie to financial targets for their product category. This individual contributes to the success of the organization by forging strong cross-functional partnerships, correlating historical and current trends, planning and forecasting multiple monthly and annual KPI’s, optimizing inventory. The Associate Merchandise Planner serves as the business manager for a specific book of business in partnership with a mentoring planner(s). This role will also work to support other Merchandise Planners as needed for continued team support as well as continued individual growth.
Inspired by Hard Work
At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission—We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products—we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create.
Associate Responsibilities
- Develop seasonal assortment for assigned categories that tie to the financial targets for Revenue, Margin, Productivity, Average Inventory and Turn in partnership with peer planner(s)
- Partner with Merchandising to present plan position in relation to global targets. Gain consensus from leadership and execute plan revisions prior to locking the original plan
- Review category level roll-ups in relation to prior forecast and original plan. Provide feedback and direction to teams consistent with the company’s top-down goals.
- Articulate global trend of assigned categories in relation to department performance while reviewing key variances to prior forecast and original plan. Manage up opportunities and potential risk to Planning Leadership
- Partner with cross-functional teams to understand receipt flow and capacity constraints to maximize sales and productive inventory levels through review of inventory strategies to ensure inventory is meeting corporate turn goal
- Participate in monthly meetings to identify sales risks due to inadequate inventory levels, collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and communicate solutions to leadership.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to resolve opportunities as they arise. Take a proactive approach to identifying potential roadblocks and seek out resolutions in a timely manner
- Champion the Merchandise Planning process and related calendar. Work to ensure company best practices are adhered to and completed within the allotted timeframe.
- Establish cross-functional relationships to promote best practices and process adherence; foster collaboration and teamwork.
Required Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or equivalent years of experience
Required Skills & Experience
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in a planning or forecasting field
- Analytical thinker with an aptitude for Retail math and forecasting methodology
- Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels including management and external partners
- Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring strong organizational skills to effectively prioritize workload, juggling multiple concurrent projects and deliverables
- Self-motivated, passionate and enthusiastic individual ready to bring energy and excitement to lead their business
- Proactive critical thinking when confronting problem solving
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and Planning tools) are needed, with advanced Excel capabilities
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
- Typical office environment; cubicle/office setting. Periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer is required.
- Travel required up to 10% of time
- This position has a Remote location: Associate will have no regular requirement to be on-site. Travel on-site is limited to special events.
- Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.
#LI-Remote
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
All associates are required to understand and act in accordance with the Carhartt Core Values. Carhartt reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, interpret or cancel in whole or in any part, the job duties outlined above at any time and without advance notice to the employee.