Job Title Description: Manager, Planning - General Books/Computer Products

Business Unit: Higher Education Group

Location: ILLINOIS (OAK BROOK)

Requisition Number: foll-00005864

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:

Position is responsible for leading, directing and developing general merchandise planners in the function of assortment and financial planning for General Books and Computer Products in the U.S. and the entire general merchandise assortment, including apparel in Canada.

Specific Responsibilities:

Ensures communication and implementation of company financial strategies.

Manages inventory dollars (open-to-buy and markdowns) with each planner to support inventory turnover goals and ensure sales and margin plans are met or exceeded.

Manages development of financial plans by store, by department to include sales, markdowns, margin and inventory.

Works with planners to develop disposition plans to liquidate aged inventory in overstock situations utilizing promotions and/or permanent markdowns.

Completes year end financial analysis of overall planning team by store, category and style.

Ensures communication and implementation of company assortment strategies across planning team.

Develops and executes action plans to achieve goals, ensuring proper execution at all levels.

Reviews the planning team's strategy by season and assists them in developing customized assortments that support product strategy and identifies gaps in timely manner with recommendations for resolution.

Monitors performance of regular assortment reviews (re-order process) to ensure product orders are initiated, older styles marked down or discontinued, and identification of new product opportunities.

Performs category ad hoc analysis to support goals, validate achieved performance as well as monitor planner effectiveness.

Identifies and pursues sales opportunities at the company, category, planner and store levels to drive future sales.

Develops, evaluates and manages performance of planning team and/or assigned staff, through coaching, training and development where needed.

Identifies gaps in timely manner with recommendations for resolution.

Ensures procedures are being followed and reviews/recommends process changes as needed.

Responds to store emails, faxes and phone messages in a timely manner.

Monitors planner responsiveness to stores merchandise requests ensuring timely and financially responsible decisions.

Conducts regular store visits or meetings on campus as requested.

Fosters open and honest communication with the stores and vendors.

Reviews prior year print catalog sales by item for print catalog stores to identify key items and categories.

Review web assortments regularly to ensure it compliments our store assortments.

Direct planners when web refreshes are required.

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Business, Retail Merchandising or related discipline required.

Five to eight years of previous retail merchandising planning/allocation experience.

Minimum of three years managerial experience at the planner level.

Retail apparel experience required; specialty retail experience preferred.

Must have previous experience in planning and buying and possess solid understanding of both processes from a financial and statistical platform.

Intermediate to advanced computer skills in MS Office and MMS Systems.

Excellent oral and written communication 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.

Strong ability to problem solve with timely resolution as well as propose appropriate process improvement where needed.

Interest in college athletics a plus.

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.