The Manager Assortment Planning will provide subject matter expertise, project management and analytical support to assortment decisions made by the merchandising organization during category reviews for key departments. This position is responsible for executing category Business Reviews (BR) and Product Line Reviews (PLR) for a designated department and should be seen by merchants as a thought leader on category and assortment strategy. The Manager should be an advocate for implementing assortment planning best practices across the portfolio of categories and provide guidance and support to Senior Analysts in the absence of a Senior Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• 80% Work in collaboration with Merchants to determine category review goals and objectives, conduct standard and ad hoc analysis to identify key drivers of performance, recommend assortment decisions that will improve category performance and develop financial plans that reflect category changes. Typical analysis will include: (a) marketplace and macroeconomic trends impacting the category including competitive assessment, (b) vendor portfolio strengths and weaknesses including private brand, (c) line structure, (d) store clustering, (e) customer and store feedback, (f) identifying key product attributes and (g) regional performance. Develop executive-level presentations that summarize analysis including historical category performance, strategic rationale underpinning assortment decisions and expected financial impact. Report out to all levels of management. Accountable for accuracy, thoroughness, thought process, timeliness and viability of recommendations.
• 10% Support to develop and maintain a calendar of category reviews.
• 10% Own MVP/DMM and Merchant/Associate Merchant relationships for designated department. Strategic projects. Ad hoc analysis and reporting.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• this position reports to the Senior Manager, Assortment Planning
• No direct responsibility for supervising others

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Working Conditions:

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA
• Prior experience in category management
• Prior experience in merchandising, planning and analysis
• Prior experience with merchandise planning software
• Proficient with Microsoft Access, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong analytical skills including demonstrated aptitude with financial analysis and ability to generate insight from large and complex data sets
• Strong communication skills including the ability to effectively articulate viewpoint to executive leadership and ability to write compelling executive level presentations
• Strong project management skills and ability to effectively handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong financial acumen including experience with the retail and cost methods of accounting
• Strong analytical and communication skills

Minimum Education:

• The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor’s degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Preferred Education:

• No additional education

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 3

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• No additional years of experience

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• None

Preferred Leadership Experience:

• None

Certifications:

• None

Competencies:

• Ability to partner with cross-functional teams at all levels across a complex organization
• Ability to get results despite a large workload, competing demands and working in a fast paced environment
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple demands, adjust to change quickly and work constructively under pressure
• Ability to structure nebulous projects and to work constructively under tight deadlines
• Ability to influence peers and business partners without authority