Senior Director, Merchandise Planning

About the Role

As Senior Director of Merchandise Planning, you will lead strategic financial planning and inventory management for multiple divisions, driving alignment between brand vision, customer needs, and financial objectives. This role requires a balance of operational excellence and strategic foresight, ensuring that merchandise strategies deliver profitable growth while supporting innovation and customer experience. You will oversee a team of planning professionals, partner cross-functionally, and influence senior leadership decisions.

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and communicate a comprehensive merchandise planning strategy that aligns financial goals with brand priorities across divisions.

• Identify risks and opportunities, recommending proactive strategies to achieve or exceed financial targets.

• Drive demand-based forecasting and inventory optimization using advanced analytics and market insights.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Merchandising, Marketing, Production, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment on product, channel, and inventory strategies.

• Present financial plans, forecasts, and actionable insights to senior leadership, influencing key business decisions.

Innovation & Transformation

• Champion new planning technologies and processes to improve agility and scalability.

• Act as a thought leader in evolving planning practices to support emerging business models and growth initiatives.

Team Development

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Manage career development and succession planning to build future talent pipelines.

Who You Are

• 12+ years of experience in merchandise or inventory planning, including 3–5 years in a senior leadership role.

• Proven ability to manage planning for multiple categories and complex business models.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with expertise in data-driven decision making.

• Skilled in influencing at the executive level and presenting complex information clearly.

• Experience with technology-driven transformation and process innovation.

• Passionate about customer-centric retail and driving profitable growth.