Associate Planner

Overview

This is a unique and exciting time to join Express. Since launching our EXPRESSway Forward strategy in 2020, we have been steadily advancing a transformation from being known as a store in the mall to a brand with a purpose, powered by a styling community. We believe that clothes can serve a higher purpose to make people look the way they want to look and feel the way they want to feel, and our Express brand purpose - We Create Confidence & Inspire Self-Expression - speaks to the role our brand can play in their lives. In 2021, we introduced our innovative Community Commerce program, inviting brand fans and style enthusiasts to take their passion for fashion to the next level by working with us.

Today, we are building, activating and amplifying the Express styling community, and we invite you to join us. Our culture is defined by three values - Express Yourself, Express Together, Express Success - and every associate at every level in every department is an important part of our transformation and our future.

For more information about Express, Inc. please visit www.express.com.

Responsibilities

The Associate Planner, in partnership with the Merchant/Planner / Sr. Planner is responsible for developing and translating department pre-season category strategies into executable merchandise and item plans. Provides financial strategies for sales, inventory, markdowns, and margin at a tops down and bottoms up level. Responsible for reconciling the financial and assortment plans and proactively making adjustments based on risks and opportunities.

In addition to that, this role will:

• Provide pre-season choice count and inventory recommendations that support department strategies
• Build class and choice level plans for all planning metrics which support the topside financial plans and the aligned upon choice counts
• Determine depth, breath and flow strategy of all inventory by location/channel, with the intention of maximizing sales and sell-through prior to markdown
• Be the financial and business expert through knowledge of current and future trends in the business/industry and be able to create innovative and efficient solutions to business opportunities and risks
• Mine and analyze data to create customer centric recommendations and strategies
• Lead plan review discussions to ensure that the company's financial objectives are being met.
• Use consumer insights and data combined with structured tests to identify and maximize growth opportunities.
• Consistently generate insights that lead to team actions to improve business metrics; influencing pricing, promotions, product assortment in real time.
• Identify process opportunities to create efficiencies in the business and be a key partner to the planning team to implement changes in a timely manner
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills and initiative to work independently and in cross functional teams
• Must have excellent written and oral communication skills to all levels of the organization; demonstrate communication and presentation skills, especially to corporate Senior Management
• Ability to be flexible, multi-task, and prioritize under tight deadlines.
• Approve all purchase orders in compliance with Sarbanes and Oxley

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 3-5 years of planning or equivalent experience
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Proven analytical skills and financial acumen
• Retail math expertise to drive business
• Advanced Knowledge of Excel & JDA Enterprise Planning

Critical Skills & Attributes

• O rganized and attentive to detail
• Resourceful and solution oriented
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Ability to work well in team environment
• Able to communicate to all levels with a clear, concise point of view

Closing

As an equal opportunity employer, Express does not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment on the basis of any federal, state, or locally protected class. Express only hires individuals authorized for employment in the United States.

Notification to Agencies: Please note that Express does not accept unsolicited resumes or calls from third-party recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement and approval from HR to submit resumes for a specific requisition, Express will not consider or approve payment to any third-parties for hires made.