Lead Merchandising Planner

About the role

Harley‑Davidson Motor Company, founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, continues to define motorcycle culture and invites you to join its team as a Lead Merchandising Planner. This full‑time, onsite position (Shift 1) is based in Juneau and involves 0‑10% travel. The role has no direct reports, is not eligible for visa sponsorship, but domestic relocation assistance is available. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

The Lead Merchandising Planner is a high‑impact, strategic planning role responsible for driving category performance and enterprise planning discipline across Motor Clothes & Licensing. Operating with a P&L mindset, the incumbent translates long‑range strategy into actionable category, financial, and inventory plans that drive sustainable growth, margin expansion, and inventory health, while serving as a key integrator across Product, Commercial, and Operations to align strategy, demand, and execution.

Responsibilities

• Support development of 3–5 year category and channel strategies aligned to enterprise and motorcycle growth objectives
• Translate strategic targets into category‑level revenue, margin, and portfolio plans (SKU count, productivity, lifecycle)
• Ensure product portfolios are sized appropriately to meet financial targets
• Partner with Commercial teams to establish data‑driven targets by region and category
• Lead top‑down and bottom‑up reconciliation process to ensure aligned, realistic growth targets
• Challenge assumptions to avoid under‑targeting and ensure credible plans
• Define SKU productivity targets and assortment architecture
• Implement lifecycle management strategies (core vs seasonal, refresh cadence, exit criteria)
• Monitor performance (sales, margins, inventory, and sell‑through) to drive real‑time decisions on buys, cancellations, and reallocations
• Partner with Supply Chain to align inventory flow with demand signals
• Evaluate replenishment forecasts and strategy against MOQ constraints to ensure inventory turn targets
• Serve as a key integrator across Merchandising, Commercial, Finance, Design, and Supply Chain
• Drive alignment between product strategy, market demand and operational execution
• Lead collaborative planning sessions (MBR, Open to Buy, etc.) focused on clear decisions and accountability
• Promote P&L mindset and reinforce KPI‑driven performance management and planning discipline
• Drive continuous improvements of planning processes, tools and reporting

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience
• Proven experience in category or portfolio planning, including SKU productivity and assortment management
• Experience supporting long‑range and annual planning processes, translating strategy into actionable financial and inventory plans
• Strong understanding of retail P&L drivers, with the ability to connect planning decisions (Buys, pricing, SKU count) into measurable financial outcomes (revenue, margin, inventory productivity)
• Advanced analytical capability, including Excel and BI/reporting tools, with the ability to synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable insights
• Demonstrated ability to operate cross‑functionally and influence decisions without direct authority in complex environments
• Strong communication and leadership skills with ability to challenge assumptions, drive alignment and make decisions through ambiguous environments
• Results‑oriented mindset with a track record of owning business outcomes and delivering measurable performance improvements
• Preferred: experience partnering closely with Commercial/Sales organizations on market planning and target setting
• Preferred: exposure to open‑to‑buy processes, inventory management strategies and supply/demand balancing
• Preferred: demonstrated capabilities in product lifecycle management or assortment architecture optimization

Benefits

• Annual bonus programs
• Health insurance benefits
• 401k program
• Onsite fitness centers and employee stores
• Employee discounts on products and accessories
• Other inclusive compensation elements

Pay

$104,100 - $155,900 (national average pay range; actual pay varies by location and experience)

Schedule

Full‑time, Shift 1