Freelance Associate Merchandise Planner

Our client, a womens and mens lifestyle brand, located in Pittsburgh, PA, is seeking a Freelance Associate Merchandise Planner for their team and business. This role will be primarily responsible for analyzing, identifying and communicating sales and inventory opportunities, and providing risk-mitigation recommendations for the category.

• Hiring in NYC, Pittsburgh- open to remote.
• Hourly Pay rate up to $34.00 for 3+years of experience in Merchandise Planning.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities by department and category

• Present financial forecast and supporting action plans in monthly open to buy meetings

• Manage basic inventory levels and forecast replenishment buys to support sales forecast

• Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to management and cross-functional team on a weekly basis

• Provide hindsight analysis and partner with merchandising on future product positioning and opportunities

• Callout inventory risks and opportunities and work cross-functionally to solve

• Prepare pre-season plans; financial sales, merchandise margin, and inventory, consistent with the company's top-down goals, to be used in development of the merchandise strategies for the season and to support assortment development and buying needs

• Have ownership of bottoms up SKU plans and buy quantification across category including key item plans of core programs

• Prepare monthly merchandise reprojection including analytical activities to understand health of category(ies) and actions leading to profitable inventory management

• Quarterly hind-sight responsibilities including SKU productivity and sell-through analysis

Required Qualifications:

• Experience using advanced Excel skills (pivot tables / vlookups a must),

• Ability to analyze large data sets

• Excellent communication/listening skills in a cross-functional environment

• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks

• Ability to negotiate with and influence peers, members of a cross-functional team, and management

• Possess a clear understanding of financial measurements: sales, gross margin, weeks of supply, inventory turn, sell through, etc. and how to impact them

• Bachelor’s degree

• 2-3+ years of dedicated planning experience

• Previous Vertical Retail planning experience a plus

If you meet the required qualifications and are interested in this role, please apply today.

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