Sr Inventory Planner (Administrative)

The Senior Inventory Planner is responsible for the generation and management of Lands' End product forecasts and managing inventory.  You will interact on a regular basis with Merchandising and Sourcing to manage the strategic financial plans by category. Other responsibilities include analyzing historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning and identifying risk and opportunities by category and/or client; conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting, and analysis; and managing processes to meet risk inventory and fulfillment goals. 

• Develop, execute and communicate strategic PC to color/size plans and forecasts that support the merchandising, marketing and financial objectives and strategies of a division/category or client
• Deliver early commits and pre-season projections
• Drive financial results that maximize sales, inventory and bottom-line profitability resulting in gross margin return on investment (GMROI) and inventory turn goals
• Analyze historical data, productivity, and current trends to identify risks and opportunities.
• Provide key insights and recommendations to depth and timing of price cuts through product lifecycle
• Recap and analyze actual key financial metrics as it relates to plan (OTB), and LY
• Forecast in-season financial metrics and inventories on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis
• Actively evaluate business results, creating action steps and recommendations to ensure delivery of plan and maintain revised forecasts in system tools
• Collaborate with merchandising to develop and communicate a comprehensive strategy that aligns future financial and product opportunities
• Participate in company and brand initiatives as appropriate
• Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to manager and cross-functional team on a weekly basis
• Support a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented environment with peers and cross-functional team resulting in shared best practices globally
• Provide manager with timely feedback on personal development and training needs
• Collaborate with peers to ensure consistency of information, share best practices and develop systems knowledge
• Actively partner cross functionally to drive shared business goals and key outcomes. Includes 3rd party vendor relationships if needed.
• Manages a higher volume and/or complexity of business
• Present strategic inventory plans in key milestone meetings as needed
• May be assigned to lead or participate in special projects across the functional area, coordinating and taking ownership of outcomes
• Will be exposed to opportunities to coach/train/mentor/manage associate planners and possibly planners
• Will develop and play a significant role in the onboarding process for new hires
• Identification of process improvement and solution oriented
• May take on some tasks of the Manager, such as leading in the absence of the Manager.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Possesses a clear understanding of financial measurements which could include: sales, gross margin, gross margin return on investment, weeks on hand, weeks of supply, etc. and how to positively impact these metrics
• Able to develop and maintain strong working relationships with peers and cross-functional teams
• Demonstrates strong listening and communication skills; able to present business strategies and action plans
• Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities
• Able to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines
• Proficiency in using Item Planning, MFP, Business Objects, OBIEE, LE Mainframe, Excel, and other required PC based packages. Comfortable navigating Qlikview applications (Retail-BPT, RPT)
• Executive presence to effectively present in key milestone meetings
• 5+ years experience as a Planner (end to end responsibilities) or equivalent

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Supply Chain