Director of Planning, Retail

The Director of Planning is responsible for setting overall Merchandise Planning and Inventory strategy in conjunction with Merchandising Leadership to achieve sales and margin goals. The ideal candidate will set the direction for their merchandise planning, replenishment, and allocation team to ensure the initiatives and priorities are integrated and aligned with the business goals as well as oversee the execution of the function.This leader must be passionate about leading a team through change as well as develop a vision/strategy to support long term growth. This candidate will champion and support new business, change and systems initiatives that support Equinox’s competitive edge.RESPONSIBILITIESManage all plan phases, including top level preliminary targets and bottom-up department level pre- and post-marketRecommend strategies to achieve balanced plans, maximizing sales and gross margin opportunities through product mixPartners with Finance to develop divisional financial plans & forecasts for sales, GM & inventory.Leads Merchant organization through monthly forecast process to accurately assess the current state of the business, provide accurate future forecasts, and makes recommendations for actions needed to maximize sales and margin.Evaluates actual results against plan. Identifies opportunities to increase sales and reduce markdown liability and recommends appropriate action.Quantify risk/opportunity and provide appropriate recommendations to deliver overall company financial objectives.Identify strategies to minimize the aging of inventory and make and pricing recommendations to address the aging inventory.Track floor/space productivity supporting capitalOversee style and SKU count analysis to maximize sales, turn, and margin goalOversee the execution of best-in-class allocation strategies to include inventory planning and forecasting.Works with Buying to evaluate past and current product performance to develop merchandise strategy.This leader is ultimately accountable for long range financial goals, income management, forecasting accuracy and inventory management. They will work in collaboration with Buying, Store Ops, and Finance to develop, align and implement replenishment processes to drive revenue and margins.Partner with merchants to create actionable product performance reporting at the appropriate levels.Develop suite of retail reporting to effectively manage the business.Manage routine processing including purchase order and price change approval.Lead physical inventory count processes and reconcile year-end results.Mange vendor accounts payable process and trouble shoot invoice reconciliation.Support completion of ongoing merchandising systems implementation.This role will lead, coach, and develop the Planning team to achieve financial objectives and optimal inventory management as well as prepare the team for broader responsibilitiesOther duties as assigned