Merchandise Planner D2C

Position Details:

Title: Merchandise Planner D2C

Department: D2C

Reports to: Manager Inventory Planning-D2C

Location: Dearborn

Job Classification: Remote

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Band: Professional

Job Summary

The Merchandise Planner develops, manages and executes assortment, sales, inventory, and margin plans that tie to financial targets for their product category(s) and channel(s). This individual contributes to the success of the organization by forging strong cross-functional partnerships, correlating historical and current trends, planning and forecasting multiple weekly, monthly, and annual KPI’s, optimizing inventory and can present, articulate and defend their plan position.  The Merchandise Planner serves as the business manager, in partnership with their Merchant(s), for a specific book of business.

Inspired by Hard Work

At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission—We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products—we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create.

Associate Responsibilities

Ensure you execute the daily/weekly/monthly activities of the Planning & Inventory business process

Develop seasonal assortments with Merchandising for your assigned Channel(s)/Category(s) that can deliver the financial targets for Sales, Margin, Productivity, and Inventory Metrics

Build Pre Season plans using guardrails from leadership (but not constrained by) on Productivity, Minimums, Safety Stock, Inv Flow, In Stock, Missed Demand, and Clearance. Articulate exceptions to seek alignment and approval. Partner with Merchandising to present, articulate and defend the plan position in relation to targets, history, and strategy, to gain consensus from leadership in Investment Reviews.

Review and reforecast demand to drive the monthly in-season process.  Identify opportunities to drive Key programs /style and material performance to increase top-line sales while mitigating bottom line risk. Ensure updates are approved with leadership for the next plan version / lock.  

Provide input on key product misses and drivers to support the Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal D2C Business process cycle, and intersections with corporate S&OE/SIOP meetings, specific to Forecasts and Inventory.  Articulate business trends in relation to prior forecast, budget and last year (Inclusive of all Product / Inventory types for your Category(s))

Optimize Inventory for the designated Category(s) through a combination of reporting and connections with other teams. Use inventory metrics to focus on ‘In stocks’, inv depth, and suggesting options to solve for Shortfall/Surplus. Ownership of the signal to drive DC receipts and on hand DC inventory

Proactively highlight product clearance opportunities, making recommendations for mitigating actions to exit dropped product in a profitable and timely way

Partner with cross functional partners, primarily D2C Merchandising (plus ‘Global’ Carhartt teams) to identify, quantify and strategize Sales and inventory risk/opportunity across time. 

Participate in additional projects (as directed by Planning & Inventory Leadership), looking to improve process, business results, and consumer experience. 

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience. 

Required Skills & Experience

Minimum of 3 years of experience in a Planning or Inventory Management adjacent role  

Good communication skills with the ability to interact at a variety of levels within the organization and convey a message clearly and succinctly, explaining the thought process behind the output

Strong organizational skills to prioritize workload, and concurrent deliverables, ensuring deliverables are consistently achieved

Develop collaborative productive partnerships cross-functionally, offering a clear point of view to support decision making

Analytical thinker with good understanding of Retail math and Planning/Inventory methodologies, being open to new ideas and opportunities

Flexible team player who is Self-motivated, passionate and enthusiastic individual ready to bring energy and excitement to lead their business

Data manipulation and analysis skills to operate with accuracy and efficiency (MS Office, Data, and Planning/Inventory tools). 

Retail or Ecommerce experience preferred. 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Typical office environment; cubicle/office setting.  

Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer.  

Travel required up to 10% of time (may include international).  

This position has a Remote location: Associate will have no regular requirement to be on-site. Travel on-site is limited to special events.

Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.