Senior Merchandise Planner

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia, we’re as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we’re proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.  

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving. 

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.  

And we believe in you.  

ABOUT THE POSITION  

As a Senior Merchandise Planner for North America, you will drive financial results that maximize sales, inventory productivity, and profitability across key areas of the Full Price DTC business. You will partner with leadership to develop, execute, and communicate merchandise financial plans and strategies that support overall merchandising, marketing, and financial objectives.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Collaborate with DTC Buyers to develop and communicate a comprehensive strategy that aligns future financial and product opportunities.
• Analyze historical data and current trends to identify risks and opportunities by department and class for future seasons.
• Recap and analyze actual sales results to plan and forecast in-season business on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
• Own Style Forecasting process for assigned categories; collaborate with DTC Merch team to build styles forecasts.
• Responsible for the open-to-buy process and forecasts, take action to react to recent business and inventory needs.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives to enhance processes to support forecasting, replenishment, and allocation activities.
• Present sales and inventory strategies for assigned categories, including weekly in-season performance updates and insights, to cross-functional business partners.
• Optional potential for minimal travel.

YOU ARE

• Analytical and numbers oriented, have a vision of how merchandise should be presented, and understand consumer trends.
• A strategic thinker, strong communicator, and data-driven storyteller.
• Strong in understanding retail math including intricacies of open to buy, inventory turnover and gross margin.
• Familiar with merchandise management systems and retail planning/forecasting software.

YOU HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising or related field.
• 5-7 years’ experience in retail merchandise planning, demand planning, buying or allocation.
• Experience working in a merchant organization as a planner, buyer, or equivalent position.  Experience in a wholesale apparel organization is preferred.
• Prior retail planning experience and strong organizational and influencing skills required.
• PC proficient skills with advanced knowledge of Excel including writing formulas, VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, and If Statements.
• Experience with Blue Yonder or similar planning/forecasting tools is strongly preferred.

#LI-JD1

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. 

Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.

At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to AskHR@columbia.com with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.