Calvin Klein Merchandise Planner

Role & Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans supporting company financial, product, and marketing objectives
• Drive business strategy to maximize sales and margin while optimizing inventory across the omni-channel division
• Contribute to brand initiatives and ensure all planning activities support annual goals
• Create department and product-level sales, gross margin, and inventory plans; collaborate with merchandising to align financial objectives with product opportunities
• Guide merchandising teams using historical data and current trends to capitalize on opportunities and identify risks
• Communicate opportunities and risks to cross-functional partners including merchandising, finance, marketing, visual, and brand leaders
• Build and maintain strategic promotional calendar in partnership with merchandising and marketing, providing guidance on key and peak weeks
• Manage budget for area of responsibility and ensure sales, gross margin, and inventory targets are met
• Make timely decisions in a fast-changing environment whilst partnering cross-functionally; identify risks and opportunities relative to sales trends
• Adapt to changing business trends and ad hoc projects while maintaining attention to detail
• Provide weekly updated forecasts detailing category opportunities, risks, markdown recommendations, and inventory reflow needs
• Present action points to cross-functional teams and senior management to gain consensus on business strategy
• Drive strategic pricing decisions to maximize sales and margin
• Manage seasonal liabilities and inventory by source; recommend reflow of new deliveries as needed
• Partner with merchandising, visual, and marketing to develop 90-day forecasts for sales, margin, and inventory
• Lead monthly forecast meetings providing guidance to business leaders and finance; recommend strategic actions and collaborate with field, visual, marketing, and critical partners on execution
• Lead receipt reconciliation process with merchant team; ensure on-order and committed receipts deliver on time to support forecasts
• Review historical performance at department and program item level; present analysis by source, delivery, and category to merchants
• Create pre-season department, category, and item plans supporting line development
• Provide receipt plans, margin, IMU goals, and flow strategies to merchants
• Review and reconcile assortments with inventory planners; provide guidance on store clusters and alpha ranks
• Lead buy finalization meeting with merchants, presenting pre-season plans and identifying risks and opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 2–3 years of merchandise planning experience; 5 or more years total work experience
• Demonstrated experience presenting and recommending strategies and building business cases
• Proven strategic forecasting experience for multidimensional retail businesses
• Track record of successfully assuming additional areas of accountability
• Experience influencing and negotiating at multiple organizational levels
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present complex material in organized and compelling manner
• Proficiency in planning and allocation systems and advanced Microsoft Windows applications
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills
• Project management expertise
• Strategic forecasting and financial planning capability

Skills

Experience

Minimum 2–3 years of merchandise planning experience in a retail or omni-channel environment, with 5 or more years of total work experience. Demonstrated success in strategic forecasting, building business cases, presenting recommendations to senior leadership, and successfully expanding areas of responsibility. Proven ability to influence and negotiate across multiple organizational levels.

Education

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 82,500 to USD 117,100 per annum.

Benefits

Competitive base salary and bonus eligibility; comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance; life and disability insurance; above-market 401(k) contribution; generous company-paid holidays and paid time off; hybrid working arrangements; volunteer opportunities; flexible work schedules; Headspace membership; fitness membership reimbursement and digital meditation subscription reimbursement; opportunity to earn up to $200 annually in wellness rewards; Care.com services for childcare, elder care, adoption, and pet care with backup care reimbursement; tuition reimbursement for continued education; associate discount on company outlets and e-commerce

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.