Head of Merchandise Planning

About the role

You will chart the course and set the strategic direction for all financial and product planning across the region. This role requires simplifying complexity to drive profitable growth, ensuring seamless alignment between global strategies and local execution across all channels. You will champion a culture of data-informed decision-making, operational excellence, and accountability, acting as a crucial leader for the Merchandising function.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for the Americas Merchandise Planning function, defining goals, structures, and processes to drive target growth, successful sell-in’s, inventory health, and assortment productivity
• Drive and align the regional planning process, translating the global product vision and commercial objectives into a comprehensive, data-backed financial and unit-level plan across wholesale and DTC channels
• Lead the team in complex and detailed financial forecasting, long-range planning, ensuring fiscal responsibility and anticipating potential risks and trade-offs
• Cultivate effective, collaborative relationships across a wide network of peers and leaders in Global Planning, Merchandising, Sales, and Finance to ensure all plans align with On's broader strategic priorities
• Provide clear, simplified narratives and compelling recommendations to senior leaders and executive teams, facilitating informed decision-making even when information is limited or contradictory
• Break down complexity and create cohesiveness and alignment for the planning team, empowering them to deliver strategic value and hold them accountable for their outcomes
• Champion innovation within the planning domain, continuously seeking to improve processes and system integration (e.g., Anaplan, D365, BI platforms) to enhance accuracy, speed, and efficiency

Requirements

• 9+ years of progressive functional experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or a related commercial finance role, ideally at a premium or performance-oriented global retailer
• 4+ years of direct people leadership experience, leading teams across multiple functions, and highlighting team scale and business unit or regional breadth
• Skilled at strategic alignment, you consistently map out and organize work to break down priorities into realistic projects and structures that incorporate necessary checks and balances
• A master of informed decision-making, you make sound choices even with limited information, relying on a combination of analysis, experience, and judgment, and know when a swift solution is sufficient
• You are adept at synthesizing people and interests, anticipating and integrating the concerns of various teams and stakeholders to align outputs with diverse interests and needs
• You have deep experience in a fast-paced, matrixed organization, successfully balancing the need to optimize team performance with the contribution to cross-functional and organizational priorities

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field
• Proven track record of driving profitable growth and optimizing inventory health through strategic planning
• Experience in setting and achieving financial targets and managing budgets
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable insights
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively

Skills

• Data-driven decision-making
• Financial modeling and forecasting
• Collaborative leadership
• Strategic planning and execution
• People management and development
• Process improvement and innovation

Benefits

On offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs

Pay

Typical cash compensation range for this position inclusive of base + bonus + equity: $220,000-$270,000. Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate including experience, industry knowledge, qualifications, skill set, and location. Certain roles may be eligible for equity compensation in addition to cash compensation.

Schedule

The role is full-time and based in New York City.