Sr. Retail Planner, Accessories & Merch

Hirex Hire (pronounced hire by hire) is a Chicago-based recruiting and talent consultancy that integrates with companies short-term to provide long-term talent solutions. We take a seat in our client’s everyday operations to understand their people goals, gaps, and challenges. We then develop and implement the processes and technologies to execute a sustainable and scalable talent plan.

We partner with companies expecting or experiencing high growth which need to hire at scale or fill a critical role rapidly. Our clients are not looking for quick-fix placements but are thoughtfully building a hiring strategy to scale their businesses.

OUR CLIENT

Location: Chicago, IL

Company Size: 4,000+ Employees

What They Do: Our client in the cannabis industry currently operates in a quarter of the country with double-digit retail locations and a triple-digit growth rate making them one of the fastest-growing companies in North America. As they avidly tackle nationwide development with cultivation facilities, dispensaries, and their headquarters in Chicago – the demand to fill their teams is at an all-time high.

THE ROLE

Our client is seeking a Senior Retail Planner to lead the financial planning, inventory strategy, and allocation efforts for its non-cannabis and ancillary retail categories. This individual will own category forecasting, replenishment planning, inventory productivity, and store-level allocation while partnering closely with the Buying team to drive profitable assortment decisions. The ideal candidate combines strong retail planning expertise with exceptional analytical skills and thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where data informs strategic decision making.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and manage annual, seasonal, and monthly financial plans, forecasts, and open-to-buy strategies for assigned product categories.
• Partner closely with the Buyer to provide data-driven recommendations on assortment planning, product launches, pricing, and end-of-life strategies.
• Build and maintain inventory allocation and replenishment strategies that optimize in-stock levels while minimizing excess inventory.
• Monitor category performance, inventory health, sell-through, and margin trends, identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Analyze store performance and customer demand to recommend allocation adjustments, inventory balancing, and SKU optimization.
• Lead regular business reviews, delivering actionable insights and performance reporting to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Support vendor planning through forecasting, volume projections, and inventory recommendations that align with business objectives.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Supply Chain teams to continuously improve inventory planning processes and execution.

WHAT YOU WILL LIKELY NEED

• 5+ years of experience in retail planning, merchandise planning, allocation, or inventory strategy.
• Experience supporting high-SKU, high-volume retail environments with complex inventory management needs.
• Strong understanding of retail planning metrics including open-to-buy, inventory turns, sell-through, gross margin, and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into business recommendations.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional partners through financial analysis and clear communication.
• Experience developing allocation strategies based on store performance, customer demand, and regional trends.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving retail environment.
• Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience with retail planning, merchandising, or inventory management systems is preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass any required background checks.
• Must comply with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be at least 21 years of age.
• Must be approved by the applicable state badging agency to work in the cannabis industry.
• Candidates should reside in New Jersey or New York and be able to travel to New Jersey approximately once per quarter.