Intermediate Planner

Position Overview:

Our emblematic planning team creates customized apparel and gift assortments for the products that fans, alumni, students, and faculty demand most. Follett partners with top brands and infuses today's apparel trends to enhance the individuality of every school with quality apparel for every type of campus pride, both in-store and online.

The Intermediate Planner role is responsible for developing financial plans by department, as well as creating customized apparel and gift assortments for small to mid-volume stores, multiple locations, or regions. While cross-functionally working with the sourcing partners, they ensure proper execution of merchandise strategy. They manage the Open to Buy process by the store to positively impact inventory goals. In order to identify and exploit sales opportunities they complete store, department, vendor, style, color, and graphic analysis. Additionally, they recommend disposition plans to liquidate aged inventory and overstock.

Responsibilities:

Financial Planning:

• Develops monthly sales plans by department using corporate goals and strategies.
• Establish monthly markdown and receipt plans to support the monthly sales plan.
• Drive department goals to deliver financial components of sales, gross margin, and inventory turnover.

Assortment Planning:

• Provides feedback to Sourcing regarding additional needs.
• Analyze and report weekly/monthly sales, inventory, and turn position as it relates to planning, last year, and last week/month.

Financial & Assortment Analysis/Reporting:

• Manages inventory levels using an OTB process.
• Forecasts future month financial components by the department.
• Executes purchase order placement/modification/cancellation recommendations based on OTB disposition.

Store/Vendor Communication Process:

• Responds to store emails, faxes, and phone messages in a timely manner.
• Responds to merchandise requests in a timely and financially responsible manner.
• Conducts regular store visits offering solutions to store issues regarding assortment breadth and depth.
• Provides purchase orders to vendors in a timely manner with appropriate lead times.
• Provides item forecasts to vendors as requested by Sourcing.
• Communicate delivery expectations to all vendors.
• Fosters open and honest communication with the stores and vendors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; educational background in business or retail preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in planning/allocation and/or buying; preferably in 2 years of planning in a retail environment.
• Intermediate to advanced computer proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Intermediate to advanced experience using JDA MMS and Retail IDEAS or similar retail planning & reporting system required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to implement creative and innovative ideas to increase merchandise sales and manage inventory.
• Proficient in Excel and experience with Demand Planning/Open-to-Buy tools.
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and adapt to a dynamic work environment.
• Work well and develop strong relationships with cross-functional teams.

Work Location:

• Ability & Willingness to commute to office location in Westchester, IL - Hybrid Schedule.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $73,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Westchester, IL 60154: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• planning/allocation: 2 years (Preferred)
• buying: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Westchester, IL 60154

Salary : $73,000 - $-1