The Merchandise Planner is responsible for developing annual merchandise plans for a given category in partnership with the Planning Manager, Category Manager, and Planning Director. This role will assist in driving the business's overall profitability and lead the weekly forecast planning process, managing Open to Buy and key figures (purchases, returns, inventory, markdowns, etc.). The Merchandise Planner is also responsible for allocating and replenishing merchandise and maintaining inventory integrity at the store level.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Sales & Net Margin
• Inventory Turns and NMROI
• Forecasting accuracy
• EOM Inventory Levels
• Store stock levels and Weeks of supply
• HEAT ticket resolution

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Functional

• Assist in the development and implementation of the strategic plan and annual budget
• Lead the forecasting process for the assigned categories, including managing and maintaining Open to Buy
• Monitor and manage article and program performance
• Identify early markdown opportunities on poorly performing items
• Assist in managing the performance of the category group
• Identify best practices and opportunities for improvement against assortment and trend direction (external/internal research) to contribute to improved category performance and overall business intelligence through recommendations on pricing, inventory levels, promotions, etc., and recommending these actions to the Category Manager and Planning Director
• Drive sales and net margin contribution through financial planning and category analysis
• Develop regular reports and recommendations based on review and analysis that are shared with the Category Team
• Manage replenishment orders
• Monitor store stock levels, adjusting allocations for performance trends and inventory levels to maintain target inventory levels.
• Recommend re-orders based on sales, on-hand, and support product exit strategy.
• Communicate with stores and DC regarding inventory and replenishment questions.
• Work with a sense of urgency to identify opportunities based on sales trends.
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all decision-making and design processes.
• Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs
• Embrace and seek out technology that creates high-tech and high-touch solutions for Indigo's customers
• Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues, and working to resolve them

People

• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself
• Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage other functions to get input
• Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback

Cultural

• Model Indigo's beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate the diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion, and influence change through your team and/or the organization

SCOPE

Reports to: Manager, Planning & Inventory Management

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Finance
• Merchandising
• Supply Chain
• Retail Operations
• Consumer Experience

External:

• Vendors

Work Experience / Education / Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or a similar/related field
• 3 years' experience in a planning or allocations-related role

Competencies / Skills / Attributes

• Advanced Excel skills required
• Sound financial and business acumen
• Detail-oriented with a strong analytical skill set, quantitatively oriented
• Demonstrated abilities in multi-tasking and problem solving
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Understanding of Retail distribution businesses is an asset
• Strong ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Ability to deal with change and uncertainty
• Strong ability to work across functional groups
• Ability to negotiate and influence peers effectively

At Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at [email protected] if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.

WELCOME HOME

Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 170 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture.

WHO WE ARE

• We love books and all things beautiful
• We are Canada's Cultural Department Store
• Books are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…

We play by the following rules:

• We exist to add joy to our customers' lives each and every time they interact with us and our products
• Our job is to create joyful moments for our customers
• We treat each other the way we'd treat a valued friend
• We inspire each other to do our best work
• We seek to ignite creativity and innovation every day
• We give back to the communities in which we operate