Merchandising Planner - USABlueBook
Job Summary
Manages a subset of a merchandising category and selects items for product line review in partnership with merchants. Optimizes assortment using data and financial projections. Works with respective merchandising teams to implement appropriate supplier strategies.
Major Tasks, Responsibilities, and Key Accountabilities
- Inputs and maintains data in various merchandising systems.
- Analyzes financial data and takes measurements to forecast growth and merchandising opportunities.
- Reviews competitive market data for assigned merchandising categories.
- Performs various administrative duties, including managing the SKU life cycle, preparing for vendor meetings, maintaining vendor contact information and inquiries, and performing ad hoc projects as assigned.
- Assists merchant team with product category management, including managing category subsets. Works with merchants to resolve issues.
- Produces reports and analyses for vendor meetings and negotiations.
- Conducts root cause analysis for variation between supply and demand forecasts and collaborates with internal departments to recommend solutions.
Job Specific Requirements
- Category Management & Merchandising Support – Supports product assortment optimization, product lifecycle management, and merchandising initiatives through data-driven analysis and execution.
- Supplier & Vendor Management – Assists with supplier engagement activities, business reviews, negotiation preparation, and vendor partnership support to help achieve category objectives.
- Business Analytics & Decision Support – Uses sales, inventory, margin, market, and financial data to identify trends, develop insights, and support business decision making.
- Product Information & Commercial Execution – Helps maintain product data integrity, supports new product launches and transitions, and ensures accurate product representation across sales and marketing channels.
- Cross Functional Collaboration – Partners with teams across Marketing, Sales, Inventory Management, Operations, Customer Service, and Digital Commerce to execute category strategies and resolve business needs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in merchandising, category management, procurement, supply chain, inventory planning, product management, business analytics, sales operations, marketing analytics, or a related business function preferred.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, margin, inventory, customer, and market data.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and business systems used for reporting and analysis.
- Experience supporting vendor relationships and supplier negotiations preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to learn technical products, customer applications, and industry specific solutions.
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across departments.
- Knowledge of or experience in the water, wastewater, utility, industrial, environmental, municipal, or related technical industries.
Education and Experience
Typically requires BS/BA in a related discipline. Generally 2-5 years of experience in a related field OR MS/MA and generally 2-4 years of experience in a related field. Certification is required in some areas.
Pay
For CA, CO, CT, D.C., DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, NJ, NV, NY, OH, RI, VA, VT, WA Job Seekers: Pay Range $70,600.00-$104,100.00 Annual
Benefits
HDS provides the following benefits to all permanent full-time associates: Medical (with Prescription drug coverage), dental, and vision plans; Health care and Dependent Care FSA (as applicable); 401(K) with company match; Paid Holiday, Vacation, Personal Time, and Wellness Day; Paid Sick Time; Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance; Short and Long-term Disability Insurance; Critical Illness Insurance; Accident Insurance; Whole Life insurance; Commuter Benefits; Tuition Reimbursement; Employee Assistance Program; Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance.
Work Environment
- Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
- Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.
- Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.
Nature and Scope
- Demonstrates skill in data analysis techniques by resolving missing/incomplete information and inconsistencies/anomalies in more complex research/data.
- Nature of work requires increasing independence; receives guidance only on unusual, complex problems or issues. Work review typically involves periodic review of output by a supervisor and/or direct customers of the process.
- May provide general guidance/direction to or train junior level support or professional personnel.