Merchandise Planner [AQ-13300]

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a leading global retailer, renowned for its iconic brand and expansive reach across both digital and physical channels. This organization is a powerhouse in the retail industry, consistently setting trends and delivering exceptional customer experiences worldwide. Joining this team means contributing to a company that deeply values innovation, strategic growth, and operational excellence, impacting millions of customers globally.

About the role

Are you a data-driven strategist eager to optimize product flow and maximize profitability in a dynamic retail environment? This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact by ensuring the right products are available to customers worldwide, directly influencing sales and operational efficiency. As a key player, you will drive growth across both digital and store channels within an international retail landscape, shaping sales and profitability through expert planning, precise forecasting, and strategic inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage comprehensive sales and inventory plans for digital and/or store channels, driving strategic growth.
• Conduct in-depth business performance analysis to identify emerging trends, potential risks, and lucrative opportunities.
• Formulate effective assortment strategies and tiering recommendations to maximize sales and market penetration.
• Support critical product launches, refine assortment planning, and contribute to pricing and markdown strategies.
• Provide actionable insights for monthly and seasonal planning processes, guiding key business decisions.
• Ensure the accuracy of product data, launch timelines, and assortment attributes across all relevant systems.
• Oversee and optimize inventory levels across distribution centers and various sales channels.
• Monitor inbound receipts and proactively adjust plans to maintain optimal stock levels and prevent disruptions.
• Strategically manage inventory flow to minimize markdowns and maximize sell-through rates.
• Collaborate with allocation, forecasting, and logistics teams to develop robust stock balancing and deployment strategies.
• Generate volume projections and inventory insights to support comprehensive operational planning.
• Foster strong partnerships with merchandising, digital, and supply chain teams to align on overarching business goals.
• Effectively communicate complex insights and recommendations to stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Provide essential ad hoc analysis and reporting to support various organizational needs.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory planning, demand forecasting, or retail analytics.
• Exceptional analytical skills with a proven ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data modeling.
• Demonstrated experience managing sales forecasts, inventory levels, and making in-season adjustments.
• Solid understanding of key retail KPIs such as sell-through, weeks of supply, inventory turns, and margin.
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, essential for cross-functional teamwork.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience in eCommerce or omnichannel retail environments.
• Familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., MicroStrategy, Tableau, Power BI, or similar).
• Background in apparel, fashion, or broader consumer retail.
• Exposure to international markets or global business operations.
• Experience with allocation, deployment, or supply chain planning.

Benefits

• Seize the opportunity to directly influence global retail performance through data-driven decisions.
• Thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment where your contributions have a significant business impact.
• Engage in a fast-paced role offering extensive exposure to end-to-end product and inventory strategy.
• Discover ample room for career growth within planning, analytics, and broader retail operations.
• Access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match.
• Free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.