Merchandise Planner – Sports Category

Job Description The Merchandise Planner is responsible for developing merchandise plans that optimize sales, profitability, and inventory across assigned product categories. This role analyzes sales performance, forecasts demand, manages inventory, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantities. The role also supports business growth through data-driven decision-making and effective merchandise planning. Key Responsibilities Merchandise Planning & Forecasting – Develop seasonal merchandise plans, sales forecasts, inventory plans, and Open-to-Buy (OTB) to achieve sales, margin, and inventory targets. Merchandising & Assortment Execution – Support assortment planning and ensure accurate product setup across all sales channels. Product & SKU Management – Maintain product master data, SKU accuracy, pricing, and product lifecycle information. Sales & Product Performance Analysis – Monitor sales, sell-through, pricing, margin, and inventory KPIs; identify opportunities and recommend actions to improve business performance. Allocation & Replenishment – Execute stock allocation, replenishment, and inventory balancing to optimize product availability across stores and channels. Inventory Management – Monitor inventory levels, stock aging, markdowns, liquidation activities, and inventory health to maximize productivity. OTB & Intake Management – Track OTB budgets, purchase commitments, and intake plans to ensure alignment with financial and inventory objectives. Cross-functional Collaboration – Coordinate with Merchandising, Buying, Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and E-commerce teams to ensure smooth product flow and effective execution. Market & Competitor Analysis – Monitor market trends, customer demand, competitor activities, and pricing to support merchandising decisions. Reporting & Data Management – Prepare business performance reports, maintain data accuracy across merchandising systems, and ensure product, pricing, and inventory information is up to date. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Retail Management, Economics, Statistics, Business Analytics, or a related field. Minimum 4–5 years of experience in Merchandise Planning, Demand Planning, Inventory Planning, or Retail Merchandising. Experience in Sporting Goods, Footwear, Apparel, Outdoor, Fashion, or Retail industry is highly preferred. Strong knowledge of merchandise planning, demand forecasting, assortment planning, inventory management, allocation, replenishment, and Open-to-Buy (OTB). Strong analytical and commercial mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable business decisions. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query, formulas); experience with Power BI or retail planning systems is an advantage. Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams. Detail-oriented, proactive, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment. Good command of written and spoken English.