Associate Category Management Planner

Associate Category Management Planner

The Associate Category Management Planner will be a key business partner with Category Manager and Category Director (CM/CD) to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin and inventory.

Major Activities

Analysis:

• Provide CD/CM with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
• Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in dept strategies
• Optimize seasonal inventory flow
• In season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
• Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals

Purchase Planning:

• Using MFP (Michaels Financial Planning) to create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
• Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
• Incorporates correction of errors
• Recommend "wave breaks" for seasonal flow
• Recommend optimal inner and master packs
• Work with pricing and CD/CM to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
• Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
• Develop and adhere to critical timelines

Assortment Planning:

• Ensure assortments are completed within specific time frames
• Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations.

Reset support:

• Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline
• Implement discontinue timing
• Implement order placement timing for new product with CD/CM and Replenishment Team
• Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast
• Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Education

• BS or equivalent
• Business, retail or related field

Minimum Special Certifications or Technical Skills

• Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel

Minimum Type of Experience the Job Requires

• 2-5 years in retail
• Numerical analysis and project management experience

Other

• Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints

Preferred Special Certifications or Technical Skills

• Planning system skills preferred

Preferred Type of Experience the Job Requires

• 2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred

Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.

At The Michaels Companies Inc., our purpose is to fuel the joy of creativity and celebration. As the leading destination for creating and celebrating in North America, we operate over 1,300 stores in 49 states and Canada and online at Michaels.com and Michaels.ca. The Michaels Companies, Inc. also owns Artistree, a manufacturer of custom and specialty framing merchandise. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, Michaels is the best place for all things creative.

Michaels is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are here for all Team Members and all customers to create, innovate and be better together.