Associate Merchandise Planner [AQ-14037]

About the Company

Aquent is proud to partner with a rapidly growing, premier retail leader that places product planning, forecasting, and allocation at the heart of their consumer journey. This energetic and innovative inventory management team is dedicated to continuously improving speed and accuracy, ensuring their brand promise is delivered in a fast-evolving marketplace and creating amazing brand experiences.

About the Role

Are you a strategic, data-driven professional eager to shape the success of a leading retail brand? In this pivotal role, you will be an integral part of a dynamic inventory management team, where your expertise will directly influence product availability and market success. You’ll manage brand planning, optimize inventory, and serve as a core financial partner to the buying teams, directly contributing to the growth of strategic brand partnerships and transforming complex data into thriving retail strategies that reach consumers nationwide. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact on consumer experiences across the country by ensuring the right products are available at the right time.

Responsibilities

• Own accurate monthly, in-season Open to Buy (OTB) sales, gross margin percentage, receipt, and inventory adjustment projections.
• Reconcile OTB projections with demand planning system forecasts and present updates at cross-functional meetings.
• Develop tailored strategies for new brands, including projected sales, SKU-level inventory needs, and order flow setups for optimal launch windows.
• Analyze and validate sales and inventory needs for key initiatives, marketing activations, and promotions.
• Conduct seasonal “hindsight” analysis on brand newness and campaign performance.
• Maintain consistent communication with vendors regarding performance and inventory health.
• Partner with product selection teams to validate product assortments, recommend items to discontinue or develop, and curate a highly productive catalog.
• Partner with inventory leadership, buying teams, and vendors to create comprehensive pre-season brand budget plans.
• Partner with demand planning on strategy, guide planning assistants to prioritize crucial orders, and develop liquidation strategies for overstock or exiting collections.

Requirements

• 4+ years of professional experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or retail demand planning.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office, with intermediate-to-expert skills in MS Excel.
• A proven ability to interpret complex data and synthesize it into intelligent, actionable business decisions.
• Clear and concise communication (written, verbal, and presentation-ready), negotiation skills, and a keen attention to detail.
• A flexible team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can handle multiple shifting priorities seamlessly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Business, or a related field (preferred).

Benefits

Eligible talent get access to amazing benefits including:

• Subsidized health, vision, and dental plans.
• Paid sick leave.
• Retirement plans with a match.
• Free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.