Manager, Merchandise Planning

AI overview

Lead a team in strategic merchandise planning and inventory management, driving sales and profitability while enhancing decision-making through advanced analytics.
We are the champions of childhood   Hanna Andersson is a Portland, Oregon-based premier kids and baby clothing brand. Our clothes are made to play, made to last, and designed to let kids be kids. We have core commitments to design, quality, and sustainability, and we believe in helping families create meaningful everyday moments. These principles guide the Hanna Way, and lead to an experience authentically different from other children’s brands. We cultivate our unique brand by hiring team members who believe in these values, own a customer service mindset, and who are innovative, results-oriented, and comfortable working in a collaborative and growth-driven work environment. We all share in our brand’s success, and we actively encourage our team members to maintain a healthy balance in their daily lives. Position Summary The Merchandise Planning Manager is responsible for merchandise planning and inventory management across assigned product categories, while also directly owning planning responsibilities for a smaller category. This role focuses on driving sales and profitability through strategic merchandise planning, open-to-buy management, inventory forecasting, and performance analysis. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical and planning expertise, proven leadership experience, and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.  This role includes the direct management of a team of planners. The Merchandise Planning Manager is responsible for coaching, developing, and guiding their team to achieve performance goals, enhance skillsets, and support career growth within the organization.  Essential Duties
  • Merchandise Planning / Inventory Management 
  • Drive sales and inventory strategies across assigned categories, while also personally managing merchandise planning for a smaller product category. 
  • Own the open-to-buy process, ensuring optimal inventory levels to support sales, margin, and inventory turnover goals. 
  • Reforecast in-season plans based on current performance, identifying risks and opportunities and recommending actions to improve results. 
  • Lead a team of direct reports, providing regular feedback, coaching, and support to ensure their professional growth and performance. 
  • Contribute to the evolution of planning tools and processes to drive efficiency and enhance decision-making. 
  • Develop and manage top-down and bottom-up merchandise plans aligned with strategic business goals and financial targets. 
  • Partner with merchants, sourcing, and design teams to build pre-season financial plans and detailed style-level forecasts. 
  • Provide business insights through regular pre-, in-, and post-season analysis, identifying key drivers and implementing learnings for future planning cycles. 
  • Evaluate performance at the product level to inform decisions on reorders, cancellations, or inventory shifts. 
  • Collaborate with sourcing to deliver accurate seasonal and long-range forecasts that support production and delivery timelines. 
  • Qualifications
  • Strong analytical, mathematical and problem-solving skills and proficiency with retail math.
  • Minimum 5 years of merchandise planning experience in a retail environment.
  • Experience managing and developing direct reports. 
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.  
  • Prior experience working with planning and inventory systems preferred.
  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to use sales financial data to make decisions and maximize profitability.
  • Ability to maintain highly effective working relationships with cross-functional teams.
  • Strong interpersonal skills including ability to influence and negotiate effectively.

  • Education & Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain or equivalent experience in related discipline.

  • Location
  • Open to remote (west coast hours) Washington, Oregon, California, preferred
  • Portland, OR (hybrid) highly preferred
  • Hanna Talent Cultivation Standards:
    With a rise in cyber-criminal activity, please note Hanna will never:
    -Ask for any sensitive personal information via email, text, or other forms of instant messaging
    -Interview you via email and/or send you a list of questions in lieu of an interview
    -Extend an offer without speaking to you via phone or video call
    -Ask for bank account or financial information during the recruiting process

    Legitimate email communication will only be done to and from @hannaandersson.com email addresses. Please examine messages carefully to ensure this is the domain you are receiving messages from, as cybercriminals may also utilize domains that look similar but may have one letter off (such as @hannaandersson.com).

    Legitimate candidate application submissions are received directly from the applicant. All unsolicited third-party submissions will be considered illegitimate and will not be reviewed or considered for hire.

    Hanna Andersson provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

    This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Hanna Andersson prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. Hanna Andersson encourages applicants of all ages.
    Salary
    $105,000 – $115,000 per year
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