H-1B Visa Merchandise Planner Jobs
Merchandise Planner jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit at the intersection of retail analytics and supply chain strategy, roles employers increasingly build around degree-level forecasting and financial planning duties. Sponsors file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS, with initial H-1B visa status granted for up to three years.
Find H-1B Visa Merchandise Planner JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 20+ Merchandise Planner jobs
See all Merchandise Planner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Merchandise Planner roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This role is eligible to be performed remotely, however, if you reside within 60 miles of Lands’ End’s office in Dodgeville, WI or New York City, you will be expected to collaborate onsite in a hybrid fashion for up to 12 days per month.
As a Merchandise Planner for Swim, you will be responsible for the generation and management of Lands’ End product forecasts and managing inventory. You will interact on a regular basis with merchandising, sourcing and the sales team to manage the strategic financial plans by category and client. Other responsibilities include analyzing historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning and identifying risk and opportunities by category; conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis; and managing processes to meet risk inventory and fulfillment goals.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop, execute and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising, marketing and financial objectives and strategies of a division/categories.
- Support overall company and brand objectives to drive financial results that maximize sales, margin, and inventory.
- Prioritize and manage expectations around key deliverables with cross-functional team, direct reports and peers.
- Collaborate with internal sales team and external clients to build and execute seasonal sale plans.
- Compile and present as needed to client review of sales and inventory ownership – may require travel.
- Accountability to delivering to financial metrics within client contracts – such as first time fulfillment, aged inventory levels.
- Analyze historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning.
- Reconcile tops-down and bottoms-up plans, and appearance plans.
- Develop monthly forecasts of sales, margin and inventory and develop strategies to meet category financial goals (OTB).
- Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to director and cross-functional team on a weekly basis, identifying risks and opportunities.
- Conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis.
- Providing markdown analysis and recommendations through product lifecycle.
- Manage key milestones – business review, book close, etc.
- Spearhead continuous improvement initiatives, collaborating with peers to ensure consistency of information, share best practices and develop tools/systems knowledge.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (economics, finance, marketing, etc.) or equivalent work experience.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in inventory management or related position.
- A solid understanding of common planning and forecasting processes and procedures.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient use of Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and other PC based applications.
- Strong relationship building, collaboration skills and presentation skills.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
This role is eligible to be performed remotely, however, if you reside within 60 miles of Lands’ End’s office in Dodgeville, WI or New York City, you will be expected to collaborate onsite in a hybrid fashion for up to 12 days per month.
As a Merchandise Planner for Swim, you will be responsible for the generation and management of Lands’ End product forecasts and managing inventory. You will interact on a regular basis with merchandising, sourcing and the sales team to manage the strategic financial plans by category and client. Other responsibilities include analyzing historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning and identifying risk and opportunities by category; conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis; and managing processes to meet risk inventory and fulfillment goals.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop, execute and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the merchandising, marketing and financial objectives and strategies of a division/categories.
- Support overall company and brand objectives to drive financial results that maximize sales, margin, and inventory.
- Prioritize and manage expectations around key deliverables with cross-functional team, direct reports and peers.
- Collaborate with internal sales team and external clients to build and execute seasonal sale plans.
- Compile and present as needed to client review of sales and inventory ownership – may require travel.
- Accountability to delivering to financial metrics within client contracts – such as first time fulfillment, aged inventory levels.
- Analyze historical product performance and current business trends to support seasonal merchandise/assortment planning.
- Reconcile tops-down and bottoms-up plans, and appearance plans.
- Develop monthly forecasts of sales, margin and inventory and develop strategies to meet category financial goals (OTB).
- Communicate financial results, forecasts, and action plans to director and cross-functional team on a weekly basis, identifying risks and opportunities.
- Conducting in-season performance tracking, reporting and analysis.
- Providing markdown analysis and recommendations through product lifecycle.
- Manage key milestones – business review, book close, etc.
- Spearhead continuous improvement initiatives, collaborating with peers to ensure consistency of information, share best practices and develop tools/systems knowledge.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (economics, finance, marketing, etc.) or equivalent work experience.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in inventory management or related position.
- A solid understanding of common planning and forecasting processes and procedures.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient use of Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and other PC based applications.
- Strong relationship building, collaboration skills and presentation skills.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all H-1B Visa Merchandise Planner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Merchandise Planner Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Merchandise Planner
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
Merchandise Planner roles don't automatically qualify as specialty occupations. Pull your O*NET profile and map your degree in business, finance, or supply chain management directly to the analytical duties listed, then document that alignment in your resume before applying.
Target retailers with LCA filing history
Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified H-1B LCA filings for merchandise planning or buyer roles. Companies that have filed before understand the process and are far less likely to withdraw an offer once they see the employer-side requirements.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer must certify your offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for your worksite location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for the relevant SOC code before you receive an offer so you negotiate from an informed baseline, not a surprise.
Confirm each worksite gets its own LCA
If you'll work across multiple distribution centers or store locations, each worksite city requires its own certified LCA filed with DOL before you start work there. Confirm this with your employer's HR or immigration counsel during the offer stage, not after you've accepted.
Document planning deliverables as degree-level work
Gather performance reviews, project scopes, or offer letters that describe your merchandise planning duties in analytical terms: OTB management, assortment forecasting, margin analysis. USCIS scrutinizes whether the actual job duties require a bachelor's degree in a specific field.
Use your 60-day grace period strategically
If your sponsoring employer eliminates your role or conducts layoffs, H-1B holders have a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor. Contact USCIS-familiar employers immediately and prioritize those already set up to file a new I-129 quickly.
H-1B Visa Merchandise Planner: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Merchandise Planner role typically qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Not automatically. Specialty occupation requires the position to normally demand at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as business, finance, supply chain management, or a related analytical discipline. Employers who structure the role around quantitative forecasting, financial open-to-buy planning, and data-driven assortment analysis can build a credible specialty occupation case. Roles framed around general buying or administrative coordination are harder to qualify.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Merchandise Planners?
Large national retailers, vertically integrated fashion brands, and consumer goods companies with centralized planning teams are the most common H-1B sponsors for merchandise planning roles. Employers who have filed LCAs for comparable planning or analytical positions in the past are your strongest targets. Browse Migrate Mate to find employers with verified H-1B sponsorship history in retail planning and related occupations.
How long does the H-1B sponsorship process take for a Merchandise Planner job?
From offer acceptance to work authorization, the process typically takes three to six months under standard processing. Your employer must first file an LCA with DOL, which certifies in roughly seven business days, then submit an I-129 petition to USCIS. Premium processing through USCIS can reduce the adjudication window to 15 business days for an additional fee, which many employers use to meet start-date commitments.
What happens to my H-1B status if my employer closes or eliminates my Merchandise Planner role?
USCIS allows a 60-day grace period after your employment ends, during which you can seek a new H-1B employer to file a transfer petition. Your new employer can file an I-129 with a request for concurrent employment authorization so you can start before USCIS adjudicates the full transfer. Acting within the first two to three weeks of job loss gives you the most runway to find a qualifying sponsor.
Can my employer transfer my H-1B if I move to a different distribution center or planning office?
A new worksite in a different metropolitan statistical area requires a separate certified LCA filed with DOL before you begin work at that location. Your employer cannot use the original LCA to cover a new city. Confirm with HR whether a worksite change is planned before or after your H-1B petition is filed, since an unlisted worksite can create a compliance issue for both you and your employer.