Central Planner - Burlington Stores

If you want an exciting job with one of the largest off-price retailers in the nation, join Burlington Stores, Inc. team as a Central Planner!

The Central Planner is responsible for achieving sales and profit objectives for several merchandise categories, working in conjunction with Divisional Merchandise Manager(s) and their respective buying teams. This responsibility includes overseeing the development and successful execution of topside and detail financial plans, assortment/buy guide, inventory management and other planning strategies for their own and another area(s). The Store Planner has a ‘dotted-line’ responsibility to the Central Planner.

Responsibilities:

Financial Planning

• Participates in development of division goals and metrics; initiates and directs development of department financial goals and metrics.
• Develops pre-season strategies and plans with Planning team in collaboration with Merchants.
• Ensures Planner/Associate Planner(s) develop bottoms up Sales, Inventory, GM plans with merchant at the class/category level that meet Corporate Objectives.
• Analyze 12 Box requirements; oversee development of strategies to support.

In-Season Business Review Business Performance

• Pro-actively directs and drives re-forecasting of sales, receipts and inventory compared to Plan and LY based on current trend, opportunities and liabilities/risk including replenishment.
  • Influence OTB and markdown decisions that drive sales and inventory productivity; (R2R/Aging) and assess their potential impact to future season business.
  • Identifies gaps vs. liquidity targets; recommends appropriate actions to DMM/VP P&A/GMM.
  • Challenge replenishment process to balance service levels and inventory productivity.
• Surfaces business opportunities to merchants based on current performance/trends and makes actionable recommendations to SVP/VP/Director of Planning/DMM/GMM.
• Ensures Planners monitor and make recommendations to impact on-order, IMU %, pricing, and markdown cadence to achieve/exceed gross margin goals.
• Reviews and validates aging/exit strategies with Merchants.

Assortment / Store Planning

• Ensures Planner(s)/Associate Planner(s) collaborates with Merchants on assortment requirements including 12 Box, top/bottom ratio, geographic/climate factors.
• Oversees Planner/Associate Planner creation of buy guides (number of styles and number of units per style by store grade) in collaboration with Planners; monitors execution in partnership with DMM.
• Ensure Planners/Associate Planners works with Merchants on order flow and size/color, and case pack requirements.
• Evaluates store feedback with Merchants and incorporate as appropriate.
• Partners with Allocation Manager and Store Planners to ensure use of statistical analysis to identify, quantify and exploit opportunities by store/profile in each cluster to improve top line sales.
• Collaborates with the Allocation Manager/Store Planners to develop inventory strategies to optimize flow, case pack and product allocation.
• Monitor store inventories in partnership with the Allocation Manager to ensure balanced inventory in the right stores.
• Partners with Director of Allocation Strategy/Allocation Manager to develop store strategies (e.g., model stocks, top volume stores) to ensure balanced inventories by store.
• Provides information to aid in the monitoring of receipt flow and vendor delivery performance.
• Validates store cluster definitions.
• Participates in store floor space strategies as necessary.
• Visits BCF stores to validate inventory looks in line with reports and understand improvement opportunities for inventory analysis and the assortment.

Collaborative Relationships

• Creates a strong partnership with Buying, Replenishment, and Allocation teams to achieve financial objectives.
• Maintains effective working relationship with other functions: Marketing, Stores, Finance
• Considers individual, division, and total Company goals when making decisions.
• Listens to others, acts as a team player.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 5 years prior buying and/or planning experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Proven ability to drive results and achieve financial objectives through an organization / team.
• Strong fact-based and intuitive decision making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; able to influence others.
• Excellent organization skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize and manage team to achieve goals and objectives.
• Ability to manage through conflict and problem resolution.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Business Intelligence).
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking primarily on a level surface for periodic periods through out the day. Reaching above shoulder heights, below the waist or lifting as required to file documents or store materials throughout the workday. Proper lifting techniques required. May include lifting up to 25 pounds for files, computer printouts on occasion.

The performance of this position may occasionally require exposure to the manufacturing areas where under certain areas require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection. Primary environment: ambient room temperatures, lighting and traditional office equipment as found in a typical office environment.

Come join our team. You’re going to like it here!
You will enjoy a competitive wage, flexible hours, and an associate discount. Burlington’s benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage including life and disability insurance. Full time associates are also eligible for paid time off, paid holidays and a 401(k) plan.
We are a rapidly growing brand, and provide a variety of training and development opportunities so our associates can grow with us. Our teams work hard and have fun together! Burlington associates make a difference in the lives of customers, colleagues, and the communities where we live and work every day. Burlington Stores, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.