Assortment Planner

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

The Assortment Planner is responsible for supporting the Category Management team to build pre-season bottoms up assortment plans supporting both the merchandising and financial strategies of the company.   The Assortment Planner drives pre-season and in-season analysis that supports assortment decisions made by the Category Management team and ensures all inventory needs of assigned categories are met.   The Assortment Planner is instrumental in lifecycle management of titles in assigned categories.  Through analysis in-season, the Assortment Planner will identify opportunities and/or risks, proactively adjusting plans and communicating to business partners.  

This position reports to the Assortment and Field Planning Manager for Book Fairs. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partners with assigned Category Manager(s) in data analysis of title and overall category performance.
• Supports and executes the “Category Assortment Planning Tool” in partnership with assigned Category Manager(s).
• Responsible for meeting inventory turn, fair profit, and inventory availability goals for assigned categories. 
• Analyzes category trends in partnership with Category Manager and establish corporate purchases that maximize inventory utilization and achieve revenue targets.    Recommend additional purchases or modified strategies as necessary to meet seasonal customer demand patterns.
• Leverages historical data, forecasting & supply tools, and point-of-sale data to determine inventory purchase needs for titles within assigned categories.
• Forecasts and manages inventory for of all fair brands and event types for assigned categories.
• Manages systemic assortment templates across various systems.
• Manages the timeliness and integrity of data in the forecasting, supply planning and Category Assortment Planning tool.  
• Identifies inventory liabilities across the company for assigned categories and partners with Field Planners and Category Management team to devise profitable strategies that optimize sell through and reduce inventory liabilities.
• Provides direction to Field Planners on title specific product category management disposition strategies.
• Support merchandise schematic processes to ensure accuracy of product placement for the planned assortment by customer type.
• Leads the corporate communication of information, processes and accountabilities relative to category assortment and schematic needs.
• Assigns supplemental directions for all existing inventory to be utilized by Field Planners in Supplemental Planning across the branch network. 
• Other duties as assigned by manager.

Qualifications

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong analytical, organizational, time management and prioritization capabilities
• High sense of urgency and attention to detail. 
• Experience planning a broad product portfolio.
• Ability to run reporting and summarize large amounts of data in an easy-to-understand format.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Access and Excel
• Experience working with JDA/Blue Yonder and Sales Force preferred
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with cross-functional teams at all levels.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of how assortment planning can influence results of various functions across the organization.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance or related field
• 3+ years assortment planning, merchandising, or financial planning experience
• APICS CPIM or CSCP certification preferred

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EEO Statement:

Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam veteran. Those factors shall not influence the determination of qualifications for a job or other opportunity within the company. Further, all personnel actions (such as compensation, tuition aid, benefits, transfers, promotions, and dismissals, company-sponsored training, social and recreational programs) shall be administered without discrimination.

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