Merchandise Planner-Victoria’s Secret

Job Description

Job Title: Merchandise Planner

Company: Victoria’s Secret

Location: Reynoldsburg, OH

Pay: $114975 per year

AI Pay Analysis: The annual salary of $114,975 translates to an hourly rate of approximately $55.25. This compensation is generally competitive for a Merchandise Planner position in Reynoldsburg, OH, as industry standards typically range from $50,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience and company size. Given that Reynoldsburg is near Columbus, where the cost of living is moderate compared to larger metropolitan areas, this salary is above the average for the region, suggesting a strong alignment with market expectations for experienced professionals in this role.

Job description:

Job Description:

As a Merchandise Planner, you will serve as the business manager for a designated portfolio, primarily responsible for translating the Merchant’s vision into actionable plans and delivering profitable outcomes. Your key responsibilities will include developing and maintaining sales, inventory, and margin plans that align with financial targets for a specific Sub-Brand or Category. You will create plans that begin at the Sub-Brand or Category level and refine them to choice-level (Style/Color), resulting in targeted assortments tailored to clusters of stores with similar selling characteristics.

In partnership with the Merchant, you will optimize the assortment for these store clusters, driving additional value. Collaborating closely with the Demand Forecaster, you will generate demand plans that integrate statistically-based forecasts, merchandise insights, and business acumen. These demand plans will provide a foundation for future merchandise strategies as well as a forward-looking sales outlook to guide the distribution process. This role reports to the Manager of Merchandise Planning.

At Victoria’s Secret & Co, you will join a globally recognized specialty retail brand celebrated for its innovation and excellence in lingerie and fashion. Working alongside industry leaders, you will contribute to setting the standard for retail excellence, placing customers at the core of our efforts to create products and experiences that bring joy.

We embrace a culture of belonging, recognizing that individuality enhances our team and business. Here, you will be empowered to thrive and grow, with unparalleled opportunities to develop your skills, gain real-world experience, and learn from industry experts.

Your Impact:

Pre-Season:

• Develop and enhance a class/sub-class plan guided by Strategic Planning directives, focusing on weekly dollar and unit merchandise planning.
• Collaborate with Merchants to establish and maintain a seasonal theme-based assortment list along with volume targets by store grouping (format, cluster, etc.).
• Formulate assortment plans at the style/choice level by store groupings to align with productivity and financial objectives.
• Utilize demand forecasts, historical trends, and attribute/category insights to drive decisions.
• Factor in the impact of significant events and strategies for entering or exiting product categories.
• Recommend initial and promotional pricing by item, participating in consensus planning with the demand planner to drive a unified sales plan.
• Communicate merchandise plans across various functional groups, including:
  • Logistics for capacity review and reconciliations.
  • Finance for alignment on the rolling business plan, addressing related issues collaboratively.
  • Stores for labor estimations.
  • Compliance for new product quality and regulatory considerations.
  • Customer Marketing for strategic seasonal campaign direction.
• Support the Sales & Operations Planning process by assisting in the preparation of materials to address supply/demand imbalances.
• Identify test candidates that align with the merchandise strategy.

In-Season:

• Analyze and adjust current strategies based on actual sales performance, revising in-season plans for sales and profitability, while managing inventory levels.
• Partner with the Merchant to develop and propose tactical responses to emerging business trends.
• Administer promotional and liquidation strategies, managing assortments to adhere to approved inventory targets.
• Facilitate communication of revisions within the team and across functions.
• Collaborate with the Demand Forecaster to explore alternate event options.
• Actively manage inventory levels by adjusting orders and partnering with Inventory Deployment on reorders.

Reporting/Analytics:

• Evaluate performance for your areas of responsibility in relation to sales, margin, and inventory trends.
• Prepare recommendations for key financial meetings to optimize sales and margins and enhance inventory productivity in conjunction with the Merchant.
• Conduct trade-off analyses regarding new items and their effects on the assortment at the sub-brand level.

Integration Points:

• Collaborate with Strategic Planning to inform and adjust financial targets based on category and attribute plans.
• Engage in consensus planning with Demand Forecasters to align on a unified plan and event modeling recommendations.
• Work with Inventory Deployment to set short- and long-term inventory management goals and assess order quantities.
• Team up with cross-functional partners to make informed decisions regarding promotional events, seasonal planning, exit strategies, and new item launches.
• Assist Merchandising, Logistics, and Production to streamline the flow of goods from suppliers to warehouses and fulfillment centers.
• Collaborate with demand forecasting to enhance reliability through accurate demand planning.
• Coordinate with Space Planning to address opportunities and constraints of the physical store environment, monitoring the results of tests, launches, and adjustments.

Minimum Salary: $84,200.00
Maximum Salary: $114,975.00

Victoria’s Secret & Co offers a competitive salary range for this position. Your actual compensation will be influenced by various factors such as individual skills, experience, geographic location, and other relevant considerations.

Qualifications:

Your Experience:

• 5-7 years of experience in retail planning, demand forecasting, inventory management, allocation, assortment planning, or financial analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, operations, economics, business, or statistics.
• Proficient technical skills in Microsoft Excel and related planning or analytical systems.
• Experience with data management systems, such as JDA Enterprise Software.

Additional Preferred Experience:

• Background in merchandising is advantageous.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a solid understanding of retail math.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and proactively devise solutions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to convey complex information succinctly.
• Proven leadership capabilities and a professional demeanor.
• An optimization mindset with skills in designing models/plans for decision-making.
• Collaborative approach to cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong task management skills with the ability to articulate detailed action plans.
• A comprehensive understanding of business strategy and execution.
• Capability to make informed decisions with limited data while synthesizing substantial volumes of information.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with varying levels of management.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including those with arrest or conviction records, consistent with applicable laws. Victoria’s Secret & Co is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other protected category recognized by law. Only individuals authorized for employment in the United States will be considered.

Job Posting Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2025 05:24:31 GMT

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