Associate Merchandise Planner

Summary

The Merchandise Associate Planner is responsible for supporting planning, forecasting, and in season maintenance for an area within a Category Merchandise Team as well as assisting in planning projects within the Division. This includes the development and preparation of merchandise pre-season financial plans, merchandise in-season financial forecasts, assortment plans, buy plans, open to buy and ad hoc analysis for all channels of Joann’s distribution. This person is also a key member of the Category Management Team providing recommendations consistent with company goals that align with the Joann Retail Strategy. The Merchandise Associate Planner is a key contributor of the open to buy process: manager of inputs within Sales, Margin, Receipts and Inventory for assigned area.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

• Responsible for construction, development and management of financial plans: both pre-season, in-season and post-season.
• Resolve issues around open to buy including: forecast accuracy, sell-thru, inventory concerns, selling velocity, markdown management, and any other business driving challenges.
• Provide recommendations and feedback during the assortment planning process by analyzing article/program performance, strategizing how the buy fits into the assortment plan, and ensuring the right stores will receive the product
• Analyzing all purchases using post-season and trend opportunity analysis, price point reviews, and inventory flow reviews to inform future purchases.
• Store performance analysis that drives recommendations for assortment changes and/or store re-profiling.
• Develop and present financial/strategy documents to senior leadership that articulates the vision of the Category Management Team in conjunction with cross functional partners.
• Assist in projects and special requests to support the Divisional Planning Team.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Drives Performance
• Strategic Planning and Analysis
• Business Acumen
• Analytical Capability
• Communication and Relationship Building
• Teamwork
• Experience with MS Office programs, specifically Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint
• Experience with inventory management: merchandising and planning functions
• Knowledge of replenishment, forecasting, and allocation fundamentals
• Functional experience with retail business systems; Preferred experience with SAP, JDA, Enterprise Planning or similar Inventory Management software
• Team player with excellent communication skills, knowledge of retail industry, analytical skills, financial acumen, independent decision making, problem identification, and resolution skills
• Ability to execute initiatives and balance priorities, results driven and sales focused, organized with an ability to prioritize a variety of tasks
  
  

Education & Experience

• Minimum Education: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree - Major-Finance/Accounting, Marketing, Merchandising, Business, Statistics, Logistics, Economics or related field
• Minimum Experience: 0-3 yrs experience in field or retail with a focus on merchandising, financial analysis, replenishment, forecasting, allocation, merchandise planning, store operations, and supply chain management.
• Preferred: Multiple years of experience in field or retail with a focus on merchandising, financial analysis, replenishment, forecasting, allocation, merchandise planning, store operations, and supply chain management.
  
  

This position will be located at:

5555 Darrow Road Hudson, OH 44236

Eligibility for benefits and incentives is dependent upon employment status. JOANN offers the following benefits and incentives to eligible Team Members:

• Medical, Dental and Vision benefit plans
• Company-paid basic, Optional, and Dependent life insurance
• Long-term disability and Company-paid Short-term disability
• Paid Time Off and Sick Time
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Team Member Discount
  
  

For more details on benefits and eligibility requirements, Click Here or visit https://joann.myben.site/

JOANN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. This job summary is intended to be brief and does not list all duties for this position. Nothing in this job description should be construed as an express or implied contract of employment. JOANN is an at-will employer, which means that your employment may be terminated by JOANN or yourself with or without notice or cause unless the at-will arrangement is modified by a written agreement signed by both you and and authorized representative of JOANN.