Director of Planning

The Director, Planning is responsible for building out a high performing merchandise planning function and lead the successful development, communication, and execution of sales, inventory, and margin strategies that support the company's financial plans. This role is responsible for providing guidance and direction for re-forecasts in-season business and development, execution, and communication of financial strategies in pre-season process that are aligned to company financial goals. This role is accountable for driving to sales targets and inventory goals to maximize sales and profitability.Main Responsibilities:Manages and coaches the planning team's OTB process of the business, providing top-down guidance and direction around key initiatives that tie to topline targets. Reviews forecasts and evaluates performance. Ability to breakdown business and identify profit driving opportunities. Protect Claire's interests while maximizing profitability and minimizing liabilities.Partners with the Planning team to evaluate forecast compared to actual sales results on a regular basis and recommend action as needed with key focus is to manage sales forecast trends and its impact to inventory to communicate risk/opportunitiesResponsible for analyzing department level business performance and draw conclusions correlating historical and current trends to drive and direct reforecasting to identify of risks, opportunities, and recommendations to be communicated regularly to the leadership teamPartner closely with cross functional teams to ensure initiatives and strategies are accurately reflected in plans as well as interpret merchandising strategies into profitable financial strategies.Present and provide both qualitative and quantitative insights at seasonal hindsight and relate performance to original strategy resulting in recommendations for future actions. Support the merchandising team with pricing and promotions recommendations based on weekly analysis against plans and forecastsPartner with Merchandising to formulate pre-season sales/GM/Inventory Flow/SKU count goals that tie to the topline benchmark metric, grow/maintain/downtrend strategies, and support in presenting financial strategies to upper managementPartner with Merchandising to build assortment strategies that tie to topline metrics. Support merchandising team with analysis to support key assortment and investment strategies and product flow.Demonstrates effective working relationships, builds strong partnerships and influences cross functional leaders and teamDrive planning process improvements, standardizations, and best practices to accommodate complexities of the business. Responsible for the performance and development of the planning teamQualifications:10+ years of merchandising planning experience preferably in a vertical retail setting proven success managing and achieving financial goals.Entrepreneurial in spirit; Thinks and acts like an owner.Excellent analytical, strategic, and problem-solving skills with ability to analyze data and draw conclusions with recommendations. The ability to make the transition from strategic (conceptual and planning) to execution.Strong organizational, planning, presentation, written and verbal communication skillsExcellent communications and presentation skills with ability to influence and build strong strategic working relationships with partners. Concisely presents complex information/recommendations to various audiences.Results oriented, self-motivated with critical attention to detail and demonstrated success in a fast-paced, collaborative and deadline-oriented environmentProficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Excel)