Merchandise Planner at Boy Scouts of America

The Merchandise Planner will ensure products and inventory are maintained at optimal levels to service all channels and increase sales at the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) scout shops and National Distribution Center (NDC). Serves as BSA's key liaison between Merchandising, Sales, and Distribution by forecasting, analyzing, managing, and maintaining optimal inventory levels for all sales channels.

Plans the inventory levels for season, department, or class of merchandise. Determines optimal product mix and shelf/scout shop locations. Ensures products are available at the right time in the right assortment and quantities. Generates short and long term merchandising category plans to meet financial objectives; executes and represents the Buyers' vision for the department. Executes distribution and plans for product in accordance with assigned plan-o-grams. Communicates and manages reorder needs with the supplier supplier/vendor. Ensures inventory levels are properly stocked and maintained through all channels of selling opportunities. Manages inventory to maximize sales allowing service to other channels of selling.

• Manages Scout Shop inventory levels to ensure maximum sales. Forecasts trends and plans inventory levels by working with the merchants, vendors, and National Distribution Center (NDC) staff to ensure stock keeping unit (SKU)'s are forecasted properly to service all channels of selling. Analyzes category consumer trends and market demographics in order to make recommendations. Develops financial plans and forecasts inclusive of periodic sales goals, margin, and inventory flow to ensure best strategies are in place to maximize sales across all channels. Determines spending levels and for which products. Performs studies for forecasting, pre/post-promotional analysis, and product selection or discontinuation.
• Accurately forecasts trends and monitors performance to establish overall product assortment strategy. Decides budget to spend, how many lines should be bought, and in what quantities. Forecasts all active purchase orders (PO) to NDC SKUs in the MMS planning tool to ensure in-stock levels are met across all channels of selling. Writes forecasted order, communicates orders to vendors, and represents it on the forecasted Open-to-Buy (OTB).
• Develops SKU-level replenishment strategies that reflect sales potential and brings it into alignment with the scout shop planogram. Executes weekly replenishment review and releases to the NDC to ensure Scout Shops are in stock for maximum sales potential.
• Forecasts Open-to-Buy (OTB) metrics to ensure the best possible forecast is presented. Works with the merchant team to ensure action plans are in place to maximize sales, margin, and inventory potential.
• Builds merchandise financial plans at the department, class, and sub-class levels to support company objectives and aligns to corporate strategies.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• 3+ years' experience in retail, preferably as a merchandise planner, allocator, replenishment analyst, financial analyst, or buyer is required.
• Strong merchandise planning application systems experience, including the ability to manage and report data. Experience with JDA Arthur Retail Software, Data Warehouse environments is highly preferred.
• Must have intermediate to advanced skills using Microsoft Excel and/or MS Access; and a proven ability to learn new systems.
• Must have strong analytical ability with high level of math proficiency; excellent attention to detail; ability to prioritize multiple projects with various degrees of difficulty to meet deadlines.
• Has an ability to fosters teamwork and collaboration; takes accountability for self-learning and development and demonstrates flexibility to work in a continuously changing environment.
• Must be able to reliably commute to the BSA Supply Group offices in Charlotte, NC.