Sr Category Management Planner

Location: Northern

Support Center - Irving The Senior Category Management Planner is key business partner with Category Manager and Category Director (CM/CD) to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin and inventory.
** Analysis:
*** Provide CD/CM with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory, in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
* Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in department strategies
* Optimize seasonal inventory flow in season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
* Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals
** Purchase Planning:
*** Using MFP (Michaels Financial Planning), create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
* Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
* Incorporates correction of errors
* Recommend  wave breaks  for seasonal flow
* Recommend optimal inner and master packs
* Work with pricing and CD/CM to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
* Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
* Develop and adhere to critical timelines
** Assortment Planning:
*** Insure assortments are completed within specific time frames
* Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information
* Make appropriate recommendations
** Reset Support:
*** Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline
* Implement discontinue timing
* Implement order placement timing for new product with CD/CM and replenishment team
* Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast
* Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials
** Other duties as assigned
** Minimum Type of experience the job requires
* 2-5 years in retail
* Numerical analysis; collaborative activities; project management Other
* Analytical, organizational, communication, collaborative, self-motivational, and good time management skills required
* Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
* Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints

Preferred Education
* Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
* Business, retail or related field

Preferred Special Certifications or technical skills
* Microsoft Office knowledge, especially Excel. Planning system skills preferred

Preferred Type of experience the job requires
* 2+ in retail planning or allocation preferred
** Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.*
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