Merchandise Planner, International Wholesale

THE PURPOSE: The Merchandise Planner – International Wholesale is responsible for supporting all aspects of the International Wholesale business. The position interfaces regularly with regional sales teams, as well as cross-functional partners across planning, production, and logistics to manage day-to-day business needs, address challenges, and identify new opportunities. In this position, you will develop the Retail Open to Buy, Seasonal Buys, and Assortment Plans on a seasonal, semi-annual, and annual basis. The position is responsible for the planning and forecasting of sales, stock, and receipts to coincide with the financial objectives of the company. The position is responsible for aiding in the achievement of financial goals and driving annual sales growth by product category. The Planner will assist the Director, International Planning, in managing stock levels by channel and account, tailored to individual needs and expected financial outcomes. The role works closely with the Wholesale Sales and Operations teams to ensure merchandise is ordered and shipped to accounts in line with pre-season and in-season bookings THE ROLE Responsible for supporting the International wholesale planning process in developing seasonal plans and strategies that meet or exceed targets (sales, gross margin, and inventory turn goals) Partner with the International wholesale sales team to build annual and seasonal top-down and bottom-up sales and inventory plans by channel, account, and classification Retail OTB: Assist in the creation and maintenance of the Retail OTB. Partner with the Wholesale Sales team and Finance work groups to tie all forecasting to company-wide goals and accountability. Monitor the performance of sales and inventory plans in an Open-To-Buy weekly/monthly, and be able to recognize opportunities & risks within a plan Assist in running weekly reports, analyzing, and communicating key selling and financial information to the Sales team and management Monitor and track receipt flow and partner as necessary with production to ensure delivery dates are met. Coordinate inventory sharing with all global planning departments to optimize the flow of inventory Review wholesale sales order inventory needs weekly, and issue needed inventory transfers to ensure all orders are filled and shipped in full Monitor sales performance and stock levels of the core assortment consistently, frequently down to the SKU level, to ensure in-stock position and proactively mitigate future stock concerns Assist in the overall seasonal projection process and ensure adherence to the global go-to-market calendar Assist other departments within the organization in exchanging critical information and data necessary for proper coordination and implementation Analyze and draw on Excel skills to help build ad hoc planning and financial reports Manage multiple assignments as needed YOU ARE Highly organized Analytical with evaluative capabilities A critical thinker with the ability to work through problems and determine solutions An excellent written and verbal communicator Proven organizational skills and multi-task oriented Exceptional problem-solving/decision-making skills Detail oriented REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Merchandising, or related field Minimum of 5 years of planning experience Strong understanding of retail math and an “Open-To-Buy” Requires P&L, budgeting, inventory turn, and gross margin experience Knowledge of product flow and operations Proficient in Windows-based computer skills, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint PREFERRED EXPERIENCE A keen eye for fashion/trend analysis Full Circle Micro Strategy Experience working in a wholesale market Experience working with major department stores