Job Description
GENERAL SUMMARY The Senior Planner is a leader within the planning organization and accountable for business performance and recommending financial strategies to ensure merchandise category and key item financial parameters are achieved.
REPORTS TO: Merchandise Planning Manager or Senior Manager
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: *Collaborates with cross functional partners to set pre-season financial strategies and build assortment architecture plans that support the merchant vision and ensure delivery of financial goals. Translates hindsight and in-season performance into future architecture. *Develops and manages weekly sales, markdown, and receipt plans through OTB at the department, class, subclass, and Key Item levels based on both trend and historical performance. *Analyses business performance in-season and recommends strategies to support the specific merchandise category.
*Provides guidance, bottoms-up reporting, and various ad-hoc analyses focused on maximizing opportunities and minimizing risk to support business strategies. *Formulates solution-minded recommendations through risk and opportunity assessment of their categories of business. *Partners with Store Planning and Allocation to ensure inventory plan align to store inventory targets. *Leads training and provides mentorship to new associates through engagement in onboarding process; invests the time and energy to facilitate connections, share expertise, and influences across planning organization. *Communicates effectively to a wide variety of audiences to drive results. *Influences product lifecycle. *Displays leadership through facilitating effective meetings, presenting to various levels of the business, and supporting cross-functional teams across the business in driving company strategies. *Exemplifies leadership, anticipates and drives a growth mindset. *Drives process enhancements with IT partners. *Project Manager for ad-hoc projects or long-term initiatives. *Builds relationships with cross-functional teams in marketing, finance, operations, and buying to drive overall business strategy and uphold the DSW mission.
REQUIRED SKILLS: *Strong financial acumen and statistical/analytical skills including data retrieval, organization, presentation, and summary skills. *Prioritizes effectively and adjusts easily to changing demands; demonstrates strong time management skills. *Excellent communication skills including written and verbal with emphasis on delivery of financial concepts. *Leads best practices/efficiencies/automations and communications them to benefit the entire planning group. *Proficient in Excel, MicroStrategy, and Enterprise Planning. *Provides point of view, influences others through detailed analysis, factual data, and makes strategic recommendations on actions to take.
EXPERIENCE: *Minimum of 5 years' experience in merchandise planning, allocation, financial analysis, buying or a combination of these areas.
EDUCATION: *B.S. degree in Business, Finance, or a related field
