Analyst, Merchandise Planning

About the Role

The Inventory Strategy team supports cross-functional partners with analytics, tools, and system expertise to enable top line growth. As a member of the Athleta Inventory Strategy team, the Systems and Analytics Analyst will help power the reporting and tools that our Inventory Management teams rely on. This role will focus on making data accessible, accurate, and usable for day-to-day and strategic decision making.

The ideal candidate is naturally curious, comfortable working with data in ambiguous situations, and eager to learn how systems, processes, and tools connect to drive business results. They are confident in Excel, technically savvy, and comfortable collaborating across functions and levels.

As part of one of the most innovative teams at Athleta, you will be exposed to how brand initiatives are implemented across a broad, cross-functional group and gain insight into a unique side of Inventory Management outside of traditional Planning and Allocation.

What You'll Do

Business Support

• Support preseason analytics and system readiness activities; help identify trends and opportunities within analyses.

• Partner with Advanced Analytics and Product Operations to pull, organize, and summarize data that supports business decisions.

• Build strong working relationships across Inventory Management, Gap Tech, and Product Management teams to support timely and relevant analytical deliverables.

• Assist with delivering formal trainings for cross-functional partners (e.g., tool walk-throughs, reporting usage).

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of training documentation and reporting instructions.

• Participate in project map work across area of ownership, inclusive of process, system, tool, and product pipeline deliverables.

• Execute assigned portions of projects or initiatives, including data pulls, analysis, documentation, and supporting change management efforts.

• Attend key business and project meetings as needed and summarize takeaways or action items.

Tool Creation & Maintenance

• Support day-to-day usage of the reporting suite through troubleshooting and “shoulder-to-shoulder” support for end users.

• Build and enhance tools and reports in Excel using advanced formulas to support business needs.

• Help conceptualize practical Excel-based solutions to new business questions.

• Combine data from multiple sources into usable formats for seamless user access.

• Partner cross-functionally on tool and report design; gather and organize user feedback for future enhancements.

• Translate business questions into clear data and reporting requirements.

• Maintain technical elements of existing tools and reports (e.g., formulas, links, layouts, basic automation).

• Identify and surface opportunities for continuous improvement in tools, processes, and reporting.

Who You Are

• 1–3 years of relevant work experience demonstrating problem solving, analytical, and technical capabilities.

• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks or deliverables at once and communicate risks to timelines when needed.

• Advanced user of Microsoft Excel, including experience with advanced formulas; experience building Excel-based reports or tools preferred.

• Exposure to project work, including identifying opportunities, helping define requirements, and supporting implementation and ongoing support.

• Retail or Inventory Management experience preferred, but not required.

• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) a plus.

• Experience with databases and/or coding languages (e.g., SQL, Python, R) a plus.

• Experience with macros, VBA, and specialized formatting in Excel a plus.