Manager, Merchandise Planning

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Job Summary

The Manager, Merchandise Planning is responsible for leading the development, communication, and execution of omni-channel sales and inventory plans for the US market. The Manager will be focused on our growing Toys & Collectibles business, identifying information, actions, and timing required to drive profitability and inventory turn. The Manager will focus on planning and hindsight both the impact of events (i.e. seasonal selling peaks), and the need for events (i.e. promotions) for seasonal, evergreen, and launch SKUs. This role interacts frequently and strategically with senior leaders from Merchandising, Allocations, Finance, Logistics, and Operations to understand, communicate, and minimize risk against Executive-aligned targets. The Manager will interact with his or her supervisor as needed. While routine activities may be completed without a supervisor’s advance approval, other activities will require supervisor or business partner consultation.

This position will sit onsite at our Grapevine, TX location 5 days a week.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead a team of merchandise planners/senior merchandise planners in the Toys & Collectibles category. The team’s responsibilities include creation of the pre-season budget and in-season sales/margin/inventory forecast, improving the accuracy of the sales/margin/inventory forecast, and placing/projecting inventory buys.

• Validate forecasting and fulfillment strategies, seeking collaborative input from merchandising and supply partners.

• Manage vendor relationships with prompt, courteous, and professional communication; fact-based information sharing, etc.

• Provide historical sales data/current sales plans to help inform and influence the Merchant team as they define future assortment plans. Provide framework and guidance in collaboration with Merchant leadership to facilitate successful execution of plans.

• Understand implications of assortment decisions and react rapidly and profitably throughout the product life cycle.

• Identify opportunities in the category business plans to achieve financial goals.

• Provide current sales and inventory plans to finance and supply chain teams. Partner to identify and mitigate risks (i.e. capacity constraints, fulfillment costs), and drive opportunities (i.e. sales upside).

• Create and action replenishment strategies for items with supply constraints and identify opportunities to close gaps between demand-based forecasts and category goals.

• Identify opportunities to improve in-stock and inventory turnover, ensuring all channels have appropriate inventory to achieve sales targets.

• Act as strategic sales and operational SME for ad hoc category projects, strategies, or initiatives.

• Manage relationships in a manner acceptable and in alignment with operating principles.

• Model team commitment by meeting deadlines and by being cooperative, collaborative, and flexible.

Related Competencies

• Business Decision Making — Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and possible outcomes.

• Adaptability — Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

• Building Trusting Relationships — Using appropriate interpersonal styles to establish effective relationships with vendors and internal partners; interacting with others in a way that promotes openness and trust and gives them confidence in one’s intentions and collaborative support.

• Inventory Management — Driving sustainable, profitable business growth with a broad, sophisticated understanding of how retailers make money; demonstrating sound business acumen and application; responding rapidly and intelligently to rapidly emerging business opportunities.

Basic and Preferred Qualifications (Education and/or Experience)

• Accredited Bachelor’s degree with a related field of study required; at least two years of additional related work experience may be considered in substitution.

• 5 or more years of related experience required; retail merchandise planning experience highly preferred.

• 2 or more years of team leadership preferred.

Minimum Qualifications, Job Skills, and Abilities

• Proficient in Microsoft Office; specifically Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. High level of proficiency in Excel is critical for success.

• Experience working with inventory replenishment models, processes, tools, and systems.

• Demonstrable history in business analytics, including the ability to predict and respond to rapidly emerging trends.

• Comprehensive understanding of Open-to-Buy management and forecasting principles.

• Ability to effectively manage time – prioritize effectively for both self and team – so that all deadlines/deliverables are met (i.e. project planning).

• Effectively communicate using written and spoken English.

• Track record of building relationships across multiple levels of the organization. Leading, communicating to and developing direct reports, influencing and driving consensus and action with peers and leaders.

• Model GME’s commitment to a respectful, diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.

• Consistently demonstrate a commitment to GME policies and procedures, including but not limited to, attendance, confidentiality, conflict of interest, and ethical responsibilities.

Additional Benefits

Full-time store positions at GameStop are also eligible to participate in incentive programs, health benefits, paid time off, 401(k), employee discount, and a casual work environment. Positions at GameStop may also be eligible for a bonus and/or other incentives.

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