About the Role
We're hiring a Merchandise Planner to sit at the intersection of supply chain operations and procurement strategy. You'll manage end-to-end inventory flow — from vendor purchase order planning through final allocation — ensuring product availability aligns with demand forecasts while optimizing cost and working capital.
Responsibilities
- Develop demand forecasts and translate them into procurement plans and purchase order recommendations
- Manage the open-to-buy (OTB) budget in alignment with supply chain capacity and vendor lead times
- Collaborate with procurement and sourcing teams to align inventory receipts with planned demand
- Monitor supply chain performance metrics — fill rate, on-time delivery, weeks of supply, inventory turn
- Partner with vendors and buyers to resolve supply constraints, shipment delays, and overstock/understock positions
- Maintain inventory health across distribution centers and channels; drive markdown and liquidation decisions when needed
- Support supplier negotiations with data on sell-through, replenishment velocity, and stock coverage
- Reconcile purchase orders against actuals and adjust forward plans based on supply chain variances
Qualifications
- 3–5 years in merchandise planning, inventory planning, or supply chain planning within a retail or consumer goods environment
- Experience with procurement workflows, PO management, and vendor collaboration
- Proficiency in planning systems (Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, SAP, Anaplan, or similar ERP/SCM tools)
- Strong retail math fundamentals: OTB, GMROI, weeks of supply, fill rate, inventory turn
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with procurement, logistics, and finance
Nice to Have
- Exposure to supplier contract terms or cost negotiation support
- Experience with omnichannel supply chain or DTC fulfillment models
What changes vs. the retail-only version: Leading with "supply chain operations and procurement strategy," adding PO management, vendor collaboration, fill rate, ERP/SCM tool mentions, and supplier negotiation language are the primary signals that push this into Supply Chain & Procurement taxonomy — while the OTB and sell-through terms keep it correctly identified as Merchandise Planning, not a generic supply chain role.
Skills Required
- 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or inventory management in a retail environment
- Proficiency in merchandise planning systems (e.g., Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, or similar)
- Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills
- Solid understanding of retail math: sell-through, margin, weeks of supply, turn
- Ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously
What the Team is Saying
Built In Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible/unlimited PTO, 12 company holidays plus four floating days, a fully paid summer Recharge Week, Half‑Day Fridays, and periodic wellness days are core elements. These programs are positioned to support rest and work‑life balance.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave up to 14 weeks for primary caregivers (six weeks secondary), family medical leave, and a structured return‑to‑work program are included. Materials characterize parental leave as generous.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical (BCBS PPO/HSA), dental and vision coverage with a company-paid premium share, HSA contributions, an EAP, and a wellness/lifestyle stipend are provided. This combination indicates robust core health and wellbeing support.
Built In Insights
What We Do
Built In is the AI-powered career platform that connects innovative companies with professionals navigating their careers in a world reshaped by AI. For candidates, we provide AI-driven job recommendations and resources that support smarter career decisions. For employers, we deliver the always-on recruitment and reputation platform that ensures your brand is visible, trusted, and chosen. By combining employer brand insights, editorial content, and structured profiles, Built In helps you protect your pipeline, convert candidate demand, and make hiring better for everyone.
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