Merchandise Planning Manager Jobs
Merchandise Planning Manager jobs are open across retail, e-commerce, apparel, and consumer goods, from associate planner to director level, with specializations in open-to-buy management, assortment planning, and inventory optimization. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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As the Vice President Merchandise Planning, you will lead the team responsible for developing and executing merchandise planning, forecasting, and inventory management functions. This critical leadership position is responsible for developing and executing inventory plans that align with the company’s overall strategy and objectives. The primary goal of the position is to optimize sales, margin, and inventory turnover, ensuring we meet customer demand while maximizing profitability. You will also play an important role in evolving our planning capabilities including driving improvements in processes, systems, and operational methodologies.
Job Functions (Employees must be able to perform the job functions of this position satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the duties, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. If requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.)
- Strategic Planning: Develop and oversee comprehensive merchandise inventory plans and strategies that support the company's goals, market trends, and customer demand. Ensure alignment with cross-functional partners, including Merchandising, Marketing, and Operations.
- Sales and Margin Optimization: Strategically balance inventory levels to optimize sales and profitability. Use data-driven insights to achieve a competitive margin and maximize sell-through rates.
- Forecasting and Demand Planning: Oversee forecasting and demand planning processes to ensure accurate, timely inventory allocation that matches customer demand and minimizes stockouts or overstock situations.
- Inventory Management: Implement efficient inventory management practices to support inventory turnover aligned with industry best practices while maintaining quality stock levels across all channels.
- Process Transformation: Lead the transformation of planning processes and capabilities. Identify and implement improvements in forecasting methodologies, systems, and planning tools to enhance the agility and accuracy of the planning function.
- Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing Planning & Inventory team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration while focusing on developing team members' skills and capabilities.
- Cross Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other departments such as merchandising, sourcing, marketing, finance, and operations to ensure alignment and effective execution. Collaborate to support company-wide strategic initiatives and drive best practices.
- Technology and Tools: Leverage and implement appropriate planning tools, systems, and technology to enhance the merchandise planning process and improve efficiency
- Performance Analysis and Reporting: Utilize data analysis to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales, margin, and inventory. Provide regular updates and insights to senior leadership, along with recommendations for corrective actions as needed.
Skills
- Proven expertise leading demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization efforts aligned with the company's financial objectives, market trends, and customer demand.
- Experience leading large-scale transformations in planning processes, tools, and systems.
- Strong analytical skills with a deep understanding of data analysis and reporting to drive decisions.
- Experience leading an omni channel business including wholesale, Ecommerce and direct to consumer.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and influence stakeholders at various levels.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, capable of prioritizing teams and tasks while driving results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Proactive problem-solving abilities with a focus on continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
- Experience leading large teams providing guidance, mentorship and career development.
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Lead and manager a team of 30+ employees.
- Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to team members.
- Foster a collaborative and positive work environment.
- Set performance expectations and goals for team members.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback.
- Identify and address performance issues through coaching and disciplinary actions when necessary.
- Participate and recruitment and onboarding of new team members, as needed.
- Identify training needs within the team and coordinate relevant development programs, encourage continuous learning and skill development among team members.
- Serve as liaison between upper management and team, conveying organizational goals and expectations.
- Address conflicts or issues within the team promptly and effectively.
- Manage team resources, including workload distribution and project assignments.
- Ensure optimal utilization of team member’s skills and expertise.
- Collaborate with upper management to establish team goals aligned with organizational objectives.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of department strategies.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or a related field, with a track record of success in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams.
-
Experience working within an SAP environment, including exposure to SAP implementations or transformations, is a plus.
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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
As the Vice President Merchandise Planning, you will lead the team responsible for developing and executing merchandise planning, forecasting, and inventory management functions. This critical leadership position is responsible for developing and executing inventory plans that align with the company’s overall strategy and objectives. The primary goal of the position is to optimize sales, margin, and inventory turnover, ensuring we meet customer demand while maximizing profitability. You will also play an important role in evolving our planning capabilities including driving improvements in processes, systems, and operational methodologies.
Job Functions (Employees must be able to perform the job functions of this position satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the duties, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. If requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.)
- Strategic Planning: Develop and oversee comprehensive merchandise inventory plans and strategies that support the company's goals, market trends, and customer demand. Ensure alignment with cross-functional partners, including Merchandising, Marketing, and Operations.
- Sales and Margin Optimization: Strategically balance inventory levels to optimize sales and profitability. Use data-driven insights to achieve a competitive margin and maximize sell-through rates.
- Forecasting and Demand Planning: Oversee forecasting and demand planning processes to ensure accurate, timely inventory allocation that matches customer demand and minimizes stockouts or overstock situations.
- Inventory Management: Implement efficient inventory management practices to support inventory turnover aligned with industry best practices while maintaining quality stock levels across all channels.
- Process Transformation: Lead the transformation of planning processes and capabilities. Identify and implement improvements in forecasting methodologies, systems, and planning tools to enhance the agility and accuracy of the planning function.
- Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing Planning & Inventory team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration while focusing on developing team members' skills and capabilities.
- Cross Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other departments such as merchandising, sourcing, marketing, finance, and operations to ensure alignment and effective execution. Collaborate to support company-wide strategic initiatives and drive best practices.
- Technology and Tools: Leverage and implement appropriate planning tools, systems, and technology to enhance the merchandise planning process and improve efficiency
- Performance Analysis and Reporting: Utilize data analysis to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales, margin, and inventory. Provide regular updates and insights to senior leadership, along with recommendations for corrective actions as needed.
Skills
- Proven expertise leading demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization efforts aligned with the company's financial objectives, market trends, and customer demand.
- Experience leading large-scale transformations in planning processes, tools, and systems.
- Strong analytical skills with a deep understanding of data analysis and reporting to drive decisions.
- Experience leading an omni channel business including wholesale, Ecommerce and direct to consumer.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and influence stakeholders at various levels.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, capable of prioritizing teams and tasks while driving results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Proactive problem-solving abilities with a focus on continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
- Experience leading large teams providing guidance, mentorship and career development.
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Lead and manager a team of 30+ employees.
- Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to team members.
- Foster a collaborative and positive work environment.
- Set performance expectations and goals for team members.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback.
- Identify and address performance issues through coaching and disciplinary actions when necessary.
- Participate and recruitment and onboarding of new team members, as needed.
- Identify training needs within the team and coordinate relevant development programs, encourage continuous learning and skill development among team members.
- Serve as liaison between upper management and team, conveying organizational goals and expectations.
- Address conflicts or issues within the team promptly and effectively.
- Manage team resources, including workload distribution and project assignments.
- Ensure optimal utilization of team member’s skills and expertise.
- Collaborate with upper management to establish team goals aligned with organizational objectives.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of department strategies.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or a related field, with a track record of success in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams.
-
Experience working within an SAP environment, including exposure to SAP implementations or transformations, is a plus.
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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Merchandise Planning Manager Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in merchandise planning manager jobs.
- 3-5 years of merchandise planning, buying, or inventory management experience in retail or e-commerce
- Proficiency in merchandise planning systems such as JDA, Blue Yonder, or SAP APO
- Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and financial modeling
- Experience managing open-to-buy budgets and assortment plans by department or category
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sell-through, inventory turn, and margin data
- Bachelor's degree in merchandising, business, supply chain, or a related field
Tips for Your Merchandise Planning Manager Job Search
Quantify your open-to-buy results
Hiring managers want to see the business impact of your planning decisions. Translate your OTB management into concrete outcomes like sell-through improvement, inventory turn gains, or markdown reduction on your resume instead of describing responsibilities.
Match your tools to the job posting
Many postings specify a planning system by name. If you've used JDA, Blue Yonder, or SAP APO, list those exact names. Generic phrases like 'planning software' get screened out by applicant tracking systems before a human ever reads your resume.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists merchandise planning manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by channel, not just title
Merchandise planning differs significantly between brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and omnichannel retailers. Filter your search by company type and read job descriptions for channel-specific language so you're applying to roles that map to your actual experience.
Prepare a case study for the interview
Most final-round interviews for this role include a scenario exercise. Walk in ready to talk through a specific planning cycle: how you built the plan, what assumptions you made, what went wrong, and how you adjusted. Vague answers about process cost candidates this role regularly.
Negotiate with margin metrics, not market data
When discussing compensation, anchor your ask to the measurable margin and inventory outcomes you've delivered. Planners who can tie their work to gross margin improvement or reduced excess inventory have a concrete basis for negotiating above the initial offer.
Merchandise Planning Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most merchandise planning managers?
The companies hiring the most merchandise planning managers right now include Macy's, Vera Bradley, and Gap, with the largest share of openings in New York, Indiana, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Retailers with large private-label or omnichannel operations tend to post the highest volume of these roles.
How many merchandise planning manager jobs are remote?
About 100% of merchandise planning manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully on-site roles still common at specialty retailers and department stores where proximity to buying and allocation teams is expected. Financial planning and OTB analysis sub-functions tend to have the highest share of remote-eligible postings.
How do you become a merchandise planning manager?
Most merchandise planning managers start in analyst or associate planner roles, building proficiency in OTB management, assortment planning, and inventory reporting over several years. Moving up typically requires demonstrating ownership of a full merchandise category, strong collaboration with buying teams, and comfort presenting financial plans to senior leadership. Formal credentials in supply chain or business analytics can accelerate the path.
Can I get hired as a merchandise planning manager without direct planning experience?
Candidates from adjacent roles in allocation, replenishment, buying, or financial analysis can transition into merchandise planning manager positions by emphasizing transferable skills like OTB modeling, sell-through analysis, and cross-functional collaboration with merchants. Highlighting any experience managing inventory budgets or building assortment plans, even in a supporting capacity, helps close the gap employers perceive when the title doesn't match exactly.
What does the merchandise planning manager interview process look like?
The process typically begins with a recruiter screen, followed by a hiring manager conversation focused on your planning methodology and category experience. Later rounds often include a case study or take-home exercise where you build or react to a merchandise plan. Final interviews usually involve cross-functional stakeholders from buying, finance, or supply chain who assess how well you collaborate and communicate planning decisions.
Where can I find and apply to merchandise planning manager jobs?
You can find and apply to merchandise planning manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that fit your experience level, category background, and preferred retail channel, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
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