Planner- Merchandise

Location: Dearborn

Department: Business Planning

Reports to: Sr. Mgr of Merchandise Planning

Job Classification: Remote

FLSA: Exempt

Job Band: Professional

Job Summary

The Merchandise Planner develops, manages, and executes sales, inventory and margin plans that tie to financial targets for multiple business units and product categories.  This individual contributes to the success of the organization by forging strong cross-functional partnerships, correlating historical and current trends, planning and forecasting multiple monthly and annual KPI’s, optimizing inventory, and the ability to present, articulate and defend their plan position. The Merchandise Planner manages a designated book of business, working with the other Planners, Sr Planners, Associate Planners and Merchant counterparts.

We Are All Leaders at Carhartt

In our words and by our actions, we strive to emulate the hardworking example set forth by our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. We Lead Business by creating value, delivering on results, and making changes along the way. We Lead Self by being dependable, because hardworking people count on us to have their back every day. We Lead Others by communicating and clearly defining the path as we walk bravely into the future. Working at Carhartt, we are all given a seat at the table and the honor of continuing the legacy. 

Representative Responsibilities 

• Develop and cultivate Planning/Merchandising partnerships to create long range, pre-season, and in season forecasts, and align inventory strategies with organizational strategies and targets. 
• Support the pre-season plan review process, in-season reforecasting, and post-season hindsighting. Review the category forecast/plan changes in relation to prior forecast, prior year(s), and target. Present, articulate, and support the plan or forecast position in relation to global targets.
• Partner with Merchandising and Inventory teams to identify areas of opportunity within the assortment to drive sales and margin, and mitigate inventory liability using historical trends and analyses, coupled with market and consumer insights.
• Partner with cross functional teams to efficiently manage product life cycle for the assigned book of business.
• Lead and facilitate monthly/weekly meetings with key partners to understand current trends as well as proactively identify actionable risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to resolve opportunities as they arise.  Take a proactive approach to identify potential roadblocks and seek out resolutions in a timely manner.
• Identify planning process pain points and/or gaps and able to propose potential solutions to a broad audience.
• Champion the Merchandise Planning process and related calendar.  Work to ensure company best practices are adhered to and completed within the allotted timeframe. 

Required Education

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

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a demand planning or forecasting field; wholesale demand planning preferred.
• Self-motivated, passionate and enthusiastic individual ready to bring energy and excitement to lead their business.
• High level of analytical thinking with strong aptitude for forecasting methodology.
• Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and delegate workload, juggling multiple concurrent projects and deliverables.
• Proactive critical thinking approach when confronting problrm solving. 
• Active listening skills, strong written and oral communication skills with the proven ability to communicate with all levels including management and business unit partners.
• Outstanding organizational skills with a natural curiosity and interest in problem-solving.
• Ability to adapt to continuously evolving organizational changes and planning processes.
• Strong sense of urgency to change, adapt, and push process forward.
• Advanced computer skills (MS Office Suite and Planning tools) are needed.

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 20% of time.

• Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.

Carhartt offers a competitive salary and benefits.  For more details, please refer to the benefits section on our website at Carhartt Benefits.

Carhartt is committed to equal opportunity for all.  Carhartt associates are hired, promoted, and rewarded on basis of skill, performance, and dedication and not influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other basis prohibited by applicable laws.

Please Note:  1.  All associates are required to understand and act in accordance with the Carhartt Core Values.  2.  Carhartt reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, interpret or cancel in whole or in any part, the job duties outlined above at any time and without advance notice to the employee