Title: PLANNER, PLANNING AND ALLOCATION
Job Title Description: Planner (Intermediate), General Merchandise
Business Unit: Higher Education Group
Location: ILLINOIS (OAK BROOK)
Requisition Number: fheg-00005974
Job Type: Regular
Business Unit Profile:
Follett Higher Education
We help institutions, administrators, faculty and students achieve a shared goal: to fully realize the powerful benefits of higher education..
From a small community college to a large state university system, from the heartland to the inner city, from the East Coast to the West, across Canada and the United States, the needs and requirements of institutions of higher learning are as individual as the students they teach. We are the nation's largest operator of college bookstores, generating more than $2.0 billion in annual sales at more than 830 locations. We also are the industry's premier wholesale book distributor-a leader in helping students manage the increasing cost of a college education. Whether it's a brand-new sweatshirt with a college logo or a used calculus textbook, Follett has always been the place to go. And as more and more shoppers go online, Follett is there as well-efollett.com is now one of the largest online retailers on the Internet.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for developing the financial and assortment plans by department for medium volume stores. Ensures proper execution of merchandise strategy via the Assortment Planning Process.
Manages Open to Buy process by store to support inventory goals. Identifies and exploits sales opportunities. Recommends disposition plans to liquidate aged inventory or over stock situations. Completes ad hoc analysis by store, department, vendor, style, color and graphic.
Specific Responsibilities:
Financial Planning
Develops monthly sales plans using the corporate goals and strategies, by store, by department.
Establishes markdown and receipt plans by month to support the monthly sales plan.
Ensures all financial components achieved including sales, gross margin and inventory turnover.
Financial/Assortment Planning
Previews the corporate approved vendor, style and graphic options by Sourcing. Provides feedback to Sourcing regarding additional category, vendor, style, color and graphic needs.
Completes assortment plan by store, identifying the appropriate style, graphic and color choices using the store assortment tool and based on store needs.
Recaps and analyzes weekly/monthly sales, inventory, and turn position as it relates to plan, last year and last week/month.
Financial/Assortment Analysis and Reporting
Manages inventory levels by store using an OTB process.
Forecasts future month financial components by store, by department.
Executes purchase order placement/modification/cancellation recommendations based on OTB disposition.
Store/Vendor Communication Process
Responds to store emails, faxes, phone messages in a timely manner.
Responds to stores merchandise requests in a timely and financially responsible manner.
Conducts regular store visits.
Offers solutions to store issues regarding assortment breath and depth.
Ensures stores are scanning re-orders regularly for all key items.
Provides purchase orders to vendors in a timely manner with appropriate lead-times.
Provides item forecasts to vendors as requested by Sourcing.
Communicates delivery expectations to all vendors.
Fosters open and honest communication with the stores and vendors.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required; preferred field of study is Business or Retail Merchandise.
Minimum of 5 years in buying and/or planning/ allocation capacity.
Retail apparel experience required; specialty and or department retail experience preferred.
Must have experience in planning and or buying and possess an understanding of the planning and allocation process from both a financial and statistical point of view.
Strong experience in licensed product a plus.
Strong analytical and problem resolution skills.
Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and adapt to a dynamic work environment.
Ability to implement creative and innovative ideas to increase merchandise sales.
Interest in college athletic is required.
Must be proficient in MS Office - Advanced Excel.
Advanced experience with Merchandise Management Systems (MMS).
Follett provides a competitive, comprehensive and cost-effective benefits program that includes:
Three Medical Options (Health Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account, HMO).
Two Dental Options (PPO, DMO) .
Vision Discount Program
Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependant Care.
Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan (dollar for dollar match up to 4%).
Two Weeks Paid Vacation After One Year (one week in the first year after six months) .
100% Tuition Reimbursement for Manager Approved Career-Enhancing Courses.
100% Matching of Qualified Charitable Donations.
Store Discounts on Books and Merchandise.
Eleven Paid Holidays (8 Observed Holidays, 3 Personal Days).
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer welcoming individuals with diverse talents and backgrounds.