Category Planner

Category Planner

The Category Planner plays a critical role in supporting the strategic and financial performance of assigned merchandise categories. Acting as the Business Partner for the Category Managers, this role leads financial planning, forecasting, and performance analysis, using advanced analytics to drive data-backed decisions. Category planner partners cross-functionally to support assortment, pricing, and promotional planningensuring alignment with 7-Eleven's business objectives and financial targets.

Key duties and responsibilities include :

• Develop monthly and annual category financial plans through partnering with Category Managers and cross-functional teams (e.g., Demand Chain, Marketing, Delivery, Finance) to deliver sales and profit financial targets.
• Conduct monthly verification of merchandise performance and initiatives across categories, ensuring accountability and progress toward annual financial goals.
• Build and input mid-month and end-of-month forecasts using historical performance, current trends, and insights on planned strategies from cross-functional teams (e.g. Marketing, Delivery, Pricing, Promo).
• Provide reporting and insights about results by month, quarter, and annually to support category teams by understanding performance drivers (assortment, seasonality, innovation, resets), communicating cross-functionally through MBRs, and reassessing category plans to drive growth and ensure strategies are achieved.
• Partner with Demand Chain to monitor inventory levels and sales, identify product performance and inventory needs, and provide forecasting guidance for new items targets, promotions, overstocks.
• Create insightful executive-level reports and presentations (e.g. BOD, IR, SLT) detailing merchandise performance and proposing fact-based strategies to optimize results and meet annual financial goals.
• Support the merchandising team with scenario planning and financial modeling to ensure effective development of category plans, mitigate risk, and improve profitability.
• Provide insights and thought leadership in developing tactical and strategic category and merchandise plans (1-5 Years).
• Showcase ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities while consistently executing at a high level.

Education and experience :

Years of relevant work experience : 3+ years of experience in retail planning, merchandising, demand forecasting, inventory management, finance, or analytics. Experience with merchandise planning tools and previous category management experience preferred. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and intermediate AI tools, including use of AI for diagnostics and planning. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make actionable recommendations. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to influence stakeholders at all levels. Comfortable working in a matrix organization with fast-paced, cross-functional collaboration.

Specific knowledge and skills :