Merchandise Demand Planner (Open to Remote) Job Listing at Bob's Discount Furniture in Boston, MA (Job ID R-26472-Boston-MA)

Description

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Merchandise Demand Planner to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the fastest growing furniture retailers in the country.  The ideal candidate will have a minimum 4 years of experience in Retail Demand Planner with a strong background in analytics, cross functional teamwork and problem solving.

In this role you will lead the development of a top down and bottoms up demand plan and provide strategic direction to inform Merchandise buys for Bob's Omni Channel business model.  This role will act as a trusted advisor to the Merchandising team to drive the strategy and vision for assortment planning, product distortions, cost, pricing modeling and store or channel selling. This partnership will drive the development of annual merchandise plans and strategies.  This position is responsible for working with Merchandising, Replenishment, Supply Chain, and Finance to help translate strategic direction and line productivity expectations .

Part of this role will be digging in with the merchandising team and the corresponding financial data to understand how distortions have changed, how that affects overall sales, and how various merchandise planning strategies will affect those numbers. Various research and analytical skills will be essential for success in this role, including synthesizing large data sets into meaningful results and strategies, deep learning of new planning systems, and creative problem solving across functional areas. 

Who We Are

At Bob's, we have fun, we love what we do, and it shows in our expansive growth! Bob's Discount Furniture is more than just a furniture store. We are one of the fastest growing omni-channel furniture retailers in the country with 165 stores in 24 states.

How We Will Support You

At Bob's we understand there are many companies you can choose to work for, so, along with exceptional opportunities for career growth we offer a fun team-oriented work environment and great benefits! Let us tell you more.

Benefits & Perks- We've got you covered! We believe in supporting our employees and their families in the best ways possible is a top priority. We focus on three core wellness pillars: Emotional, Physical and Financial. Below are just some of the benefits that we offer:

 

• Feeling under the weather, we've got you covered! We offer Nationally provided Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Personal Days, Sick Days, Holidays, work anniversary and your Birthday! After all, your birthday should be a holiday
• 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan with a Generous Company match!
• Pet Insurance to help keep your furry friends happy and healthy
• Life insurance – Employer-paid basic Life Insurance, with the option to add Voluntary Life Insurance as well!
• Financial Planning, Voluntary Legal Benefits and Wellness Plans
• We already offer value priced furniture, but on top of that we offer a Generous Employee Discount starting on your 1st day!
   

Culture and Core Values- At Bob's we have a set of core values that shape the decisions we make every day and help define our company culture. These values comprise what we call "The Bob's Way." Honesty, Integrity, Transparency, Community, Safety, Diversity, Accountability and Fun.

DIVERSITY IS A CORE VALUE AT BOB'S

At Bob's Discount Furniture, we want you to feel at home. Whether you're shopping with us or a part of the Bob's team, we want you to know that you are valued, appreciated, and free to be who you are.

We are committed to creating a place as diverse as the communities we serve.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops pre-launch top-down/bottom-up level plans for sales, inventory, markdowns and margin in partnership with the Merchants.
• Conducts monthly reforecast of category unit plans/dollar/cost plans, focusing on future opportunities as well as minimizing sales/inventory risks.
• Communicate over/under bought situations and provides recommendations for resolution.
• Initiates analysis of business trends, including but not limited to, category performance, regional/store, channel and sku performance selling.
• Communicate with multiple departments and team members on merchandise sales and margin trends to identify selling behavioral changes as well as penetration changes.
• Recommends test strategies based on current category performance and initiates analysis.
• Collaborate with merchandising to develop and communicate comprehensive strategy that aligns to future financial product opportunities.
• Collaborates with Merchandising, Pricing, Marketing, Supply Planning, and Finance to incorporate the on-boarding of new products, retirement of old products, customer-specific inventory requirements, and promotions into the demand planning process and recommendations.
• Participate in internal and external cross functional meetings and presenting out product level financials and identifying risks and opportunities.
• Develop a comprehensive Open to Buy plan, considering various supply sources servicing different customer interests.  OTB will also help guide margin strategies by balancing a mix of product, ie. full price, closeouts, damages, etc.
• Develop assortment plans that tie back to the monthly open to buy targets as well as ladder back to the company overall financial sales goals.
• Work with department heads to analyze existing systems and create new workflows and processes.
• Partner and become subject matter expert within Demand Planning in the implementation and integration of new planning software tool, including testing, scenario play, report building, and KPI development and management.
• Design both recurring and ad hoc reporting and analysis on key business metrics. Present findings in a clear and actionable form.

Supervisory Responsibility

This role does not currently have any direct reports but the ideal candidate will have managerial experience and the ability to hire, train and lead a team in the future.

Work Environment
 

• This position is home-based, offering the flexibility to work from a home office.
• The role involves frequent use of phone and web conferencing tools to communicate with team members, stakeholders, and partners.
• Collaboration is key, with regular virtual meetings and ongoing communication through various digital platforms.
• The position requires a high degree of influence and collaboration, working closely with cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, IT, and external partners.
• The role demands a self-motivated individual who can thrive in a remote work environment while maintaining productivity and engagement with the broader team.
  
   

Physical Demands
 

• The role requires the ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer.
• Regular use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and video conferencing tools.
• Visual and auditory acuity required for extensive computer use and virtual meetings.

Expected Hours of Work and Travel

• This position is remote, offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Regular work hours are E.S.T 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
• The candidate may be required to travel to our home office in Manchester, CT several days a year for in-person meetings, store or dc visits, collaboration, and strategic planning sessions.
   

Required Education And Experience
 

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred but not required.
•  Minimum 4 years of experience in a planning function, preferably in Retail.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; highly proficient with MS Excel and merchandise planning system
• Ability to learn new systems quickly and leverage systems and information to influence others.
• Ability to work with data from multiple sources and interpret the data to provide actionable conclusions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across the organization.
• Illustrates a dedication to meeting requirements of internal and external customers, responding to all customer requests promptly and thoroughly.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to work in a team environment, give honest, direct feedback and is a solid verbal and written communicator.
• Meets deadlines, prioritizes appropriately, copes well with change, and maintains composure under pressure.
• Is accountable for results, approaches obstacles proactively and looks for ways to resolve problems and issues.
   

Preferred Education and Experience
 

• Forecasting /planning experience in the retail industry
• Tools: Logility, Power BI, ERP solutions, and Integrated Supply Chain planning solutions.  Must have intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
   

Expected Base Pay Not Including Potential Commissions, Incentive, Bonus, etc. Opportunities:

It is policy of Bob's Discount Furniture, Inc., to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. No person shall be discriminated against or harassed because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, veteran or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state or local law.

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