Merchandise Planning Manager

Jr286 Careers • Torrance, CA

4d

About The Position

JR286 is seeking a highly analytical Merchandise Planning Manager to own forecasting, OTB planning, and inventory strategy for our JR286 Logistics Division. This role plays a key part in driving profitability, optimizing inventory, and supporting growth through strategic planning and execution. The Merchandise Planning Manager will translate sales and product strategy into buy recommendations, WIP needs, and inventory targets across channels, partnering cross-functionally to ensure plans are executable and aligned to business goals.

Requirements

• 6–8 years of experience in merchandise planning, allocation, or inventory management within an apparel or accessories brand.
• Demonstrated experience owning OTB and buy planning.
• Strong understanding of the full product lifecycle, from concept through consumer delivery.
• Analytical and strategic thinker with strong Excel skills and experience in ERP/planning tools (e.g., Oracle, NetSuite, or similar).
• Self-starter who thrives in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong communicator who enjoys collaborating across creative and operational teams.

Nice To Haves

• Background in activewear brands, sporting goods, and/or outdoor preferred.
• Passion for sports, outdoors, active culture, and brands with purpose.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage open-to-buy (OTB) plans by season and division.
• Translate sales targets and product strategies into buy recommendations.
• Analyze inventory performance and recommend actions to optimize turns, weeks of supply, and sell-through.
• Own ongoing sell-in and sell-through performance reporting, including bookings, ATS, and retail performance metrics.
• Analyze performance against OTB, forecasts, and inventory targets, and surface risks and opportunities.
• Prepare and present weekly business readouts and insights, seasonal recaps, hindsight analyses, and buy recommendations to leadership.
• Build rolling replenishment forecasts using historical data, product trends, and marketing inputs.
• Lead cross-functional forecast reviews and scenario planning to pressure-test assumptions and respond to demand shifts.
• Provide clear insights into sales trends, product velocity, and inventory risk.
• Track and communicate key metrics like forecast accuracy, turns, and weeks of supply.
• Set inventory targets and timing, and partner with operations, production, and logistics to execute against approved OTB plans.
• Align buy quantities and delivery timing with forecasted demand and inventory strategy.
• Identify inventory risks related to timing or excess and recommend mitigation actions.
• Partner with product, sales, and operations to align on seasonal and in-season strategies.
• Collaborate with wholesale partners on order projections and replenishment programs.
• Contribute to planning process improvements as the business scales, including tools, templates, and workflows.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (we leverage market data) + benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k match, life insurance, pet insurance)
• Company gym with access to personal trainer
• On-site Kitchen
• Paid Parental Leave
• Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
• Responsible Time Off (aka Unlimited Vacation)
• 13 company holidays
• Professional development workshops
• Employee product discounts on selected brands

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed