Merchandise Planner

About the Team

Our Merchandise Planning and Allocation (MP&A) teams are the driving forces behind making the organization’s product visions available to our consumers through calculated and strategic measures. Your involvement in sales and margin forecasts, promotional performance analysis, inventory management, and vendor relationships will play a critical role in obtaining goals while maintaining PetSmart’s reputation in the market as a trusted partner to pet parents.

About the Location

This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

Responsibilities

• Create and revise all components of a rolling merchandise forecast (sales, margin, receipts, inventory and turn).
• Make both collaborative and independent day-to-day decisions which affect gross margin dollars.
• Partner with the Buyer and Assortment Team to influence the assortment and promotional plans.
• Analyze and anticipate selling patterns to influence the allocation and replenishment strategy.
• Provide thought leadership, analysis, and insights into trends and recommendations for actions to maximize sales, margin, and inventory productivity both on a daily basis and via periodic small and large-scale presentations.
• Follow the Merchandise Planning Policies & Procedures to support delivering the merchandise plan objectives, including growth in sales and margin, and driving cost reductions and inventory productivity gains.
• Identify and communicate opportunities for improvement in your categories of responsibility to your manager and work with peers and business partners to enable cross-functional team success.
• Influence the overall merchandise strategy for assigned categories.
• Develop a solid knowledge of planning practices and alignment with merchandising, promotional, and assortment strategies.
• Leverage analytical skill sets to influence the decision-making process and deliver the merchandise plan objectives.
• Achieve Sales, Margin, Inventory Turnover, and other KPIs as designated to plan.
• Develop yearly/seasonal/weekly category merchandise financial plans (sales, margin, inventory, and turn) in accordance with company goals, historical performance, and trend analysis. Present strategies to Senior Management.
• Analyze and reforecast the business and recommend/implement strategies to maximize opportunities and minimize risk.
• Support the leadership team in the seasonal, annual, and long-range strategic and financial planning across a wide array of vendor (direct and external), customer, and merchandising segments.
• Influence inventory levels and allocation strategies to stay in line with the turn and inventory plan.
• Lead, execute, and measure performance against the business planning and product creation calendars to engage timely and informed decision-making.
• Own the end-to-end management of merchandise and financial planning, including the optimization of inventory investments across life cycle pricing, in-stock and service levels, and seasonal transitions.
• Set targets and achieve plans for good/better/best pricing proportions, inventory, and space productivity required to support the sales and gross margin plans.
• Maintain high levels of promotional product availability during promotional periods while minimizing aging and discontinued inventory levels.
• Develop key, new, and one-time buy items plans and partner with Merchandise Buyers and Allocation Teams to adjust inventory levels where appropriate in season.
• Conduct detailed post-season or post-event analysis, leveraging customer data when appropriate, and present insights and recommendations to the leadership team.
• Actively create and lead special projects that engage growth opportunities.
• Work with space and assortment planning team members to influence the assortment planning process based on insights, analysis, and strategic direction.
• Use consumer insights and data combined with a structured test-and-learn approach to maximize growth opportunities.
• Support the VP & Director to present within various strategic meetings for the division (e.g., Direction Setting, Marketing Execution meetings, Line Reviews, Open-To-Buy, Vendor, QBR, and other meetings).
• Integrate all processes and systems to fully optimize accuracy, efficiency, inventory productivity, and financial productivity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, preferably with a business focus, or an equivalent blend of relevant experience and education.
• 3+ years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• JDA Enterprise Planning (or equivalent) experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop analytical and problem-solving skills (i.e., critical and evaluative thinking).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to communicate effectively across many levels within the organization.
• Ability to influence decisions by creating a compelling case for action using analytical findings.
• Collaborative skills: ability to partner across departments to engage decisions.
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills.

Additional Job Considerations

This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients. Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results. On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.

About the Culture

At PetSmart, Anything for Pets begins with our people. Every associate plays a vital role in creating meaningful experiences for pets and their families, and we empower our teams with the tools, resources, and opportunities to grow and succeed. We’re more than a workplace, we’re Team PetSmart. Together, we grow, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to be the best in all we do. Our culture is built on belonging and shared purpose, where every voice and experience matters. Guided by our values, we strive to do what’s right, lead responsibly, and bring our passion for pets to life every day.

Benefits

• Pet-friendly environment; bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park.
• On-Site Events & Adoptions, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, and holiday festivals.
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces.
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, and more.
• “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education.
• Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart.
• Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure, and more.