Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization
The Manager, Merchandise Planning is responsible for key projects and processes that inform product and category plans, inventory levels, pre-season and in-season planning, and trading to deliver against business KPIs and channel strategies and drive profitability for the Factory Outlet Business.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the Open To Buy inventory forecasting process for the assigned division and business segments to ensure healthy inventory levels.
- Manage planning for pre-season demand, in-season trading, and post-season hindsight to drive category sales, making recommendations at the channel and category level.
- Produce buy plans by season to meet top-line sales, margin, and inventory-turn targets.
- Partner with buying teams to provide feedback on assortment strategies and buy depth as part of buy reviews and GTM milestones.
- Create and maintain business processes and tools that drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
- Deliver accurate and timely management reporting tools, including historical results, forecasts, and budgets.
- Manage space-planning analysis for current and new stores and communicate recommendations to merchandising, store development, and visual merchandising teams.
- Provide capacity and sales mixes for new store openings, refits, and expansion projects.
Key Relationships
Channel Buying and Allocation teams; Channel and Market Financial Planning teams; Channel Visual Excellence and Visual Direction teams; Market Business Units; Market Demand Planning team; and Market Supply Chain and Omni team.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong understanding of retail KPIs and retail math.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Power BI, and familiarity with merchandising systems and applications.
- Advanced Excel skills, including macros, pivot tables, lookup formulas, and formatting.
- Ability to synthesize large amounts of data and create reporting tools.
- Ability to multitask and solve problems while managing multiple projects.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
- Proven financial acumen and inventory-management experience.
Minimum Qualifications
- University degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Three years of relevant work experience.
- Ability to alternate between sitting and standing for extended periods.
Work Policy and Culture
adidas offers a hybrid work policy requiring attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Friday. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday.
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness, and encourages individual expression. The company provides reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and is an equal opportunity employer.