Meijer Inc. Looking for Corporate Merchandise Planner-Softlines at Grand Rapids, MI Full Time

We opened our doors more than 85 years ago with the goal of helping people provide for themselves and their family. Today we’re a multi-billion dollar retailer with more than 70,000 employees across six states. Our Midwest geography includes corporate offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan, plus manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and over 240 stores across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin. Meijer is an Equal Opportunity Employer, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are committed to treating all persons with dignity and respect. Meijer’s policy is to not discriminate because of any applicant or team member’s race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, age, physical or mental disability, uniformed service or veteran status, or any other lawfully-protected classification. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of your application, please click here to submit your request. Submissions that are not seeking help to complete the application due to a disability will not be responded to. As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you’re provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family – take care of your career and your community! Meijer Rewards Weekly pay Scheduling flexibility Paid parental leave Paid education assistance Care.com/back-up care assistance Team member discount Development programs for advancement and career growth Please review the job profile below and apply today! . Meijer is currently seeking an Experienced Corporate Merchandise Planner, who actively leads the assigned Softlines business area to achieve financial goals by focusing on establishing a business partnership with the Buyer, supporting the development of business strategies, developing the skill sets with the team, and executing defined business processes. *This position follows a hybrid work schedule: Mon-Wed in office (Grand Rapids, MI), Thurs-Fri remote (within Meijer’s six-state footprint: MI, OH, IN, IL, WI, KY) Relocation assistance available for those who qualify. What You’ll be Doing: Develop a partnership with the Buyer to drive merchandising strategies and tactics that deliver financial objectives and deliver ROI. Partner with the Buyer to drive and execute key business decisions impacting the assigned category such as: Sales and Margin Forecasting Product Flow & Exit Strategies Resource Allocation (Receipts, Space & Inventory) Calendar & Timeline Compliance regarding New Stores, Remodel Stores & Category Transitions (including Seasonal Resets and Clearance) Partner with the Buyer to support the development of key business strategies impacting the assigned category such as: Pricing & Promotional Activity Assortment Planning, including Planograms Pre/Post-Season Planning: Partner with the Buyer to drive the development of strategies which will achieve targeted goals. Develop bottom-up financial plans that meet the assigned financial goals for sales, margin, turns and ROI. Line / Category review preparation and presentation. Partner with the Buyer and Category Captain where appropriate to develop and present financial and statistical standardized documents that tie to assigned financial goals. Partner with the Buyer to develop sub-category buy plans and ladder plans which identify sales plan and purchase quantities which meet or exceed financial goals. Provide postmortem analysis of sub-category and seasonal performance to plan to include unanticipated causal factors and activities taken to enhance favorable results as well as those taken to minimize unfavorable results. In-Season Management: Co-Lead team meetings reviewing current state of the category, projecting future results and driving to solutions and actions which result in meeting or exceeding plan. Forecast and record in the Planning Tool projected financial results of current strategies while maintaining high level of forecast accuracy. Identify item level opportunities to drive item level performance that increase sales or liquidate poor performers while providing direction to the team on demand level forecasting at the total company level. Partner with the Buyer to drive execution of strategies which will achieve or exceed these goals. Manage item level exit strategies to meet targeted out date and manage margin impact. Partner with supply chain to develop strategies within the team for all products to maximize ROI while ensuring they align with overall Meijer supply chain strategies. Enforce FACT-based decision-making within the team. Provide leadership within team to effectively manage an open relationship across the team and leadership. Communicate with Director of Merchandise Planning and appropriate levels of the organization to recognize and raise issues or opportunities in a timely manner. Collaborate with Vendors and Buyers, utilizing merchandise planning tools, to project and record long term forecasts, including promotion and baseline, to maximize opportunities and ensure smooth product flow. Provide daily supervision and management to the Business Analysts for key tasks including in-stock, transition management, allocation and product flow. What You Bring with You (Qualifications): 4-year University or College Degree or commensurate retail experience Minimum 4-years’ experience in Merchandising or prior experience with allocation and/or financial planning within the retail industry. Ability to gather and interpret data for various reports, as appropriate. Ability to drive positive change. Knowledge of the retail industry; understanding of specific category product lines and core customer behavior. Results focused using performance targets and goals to drive own activities as well as help team succeed. Office computer skills; able to learn company systems and tools