The Associate Assortment Planner supports the Director of Category & Assortment Strategy with recommendations to maximize sales and margins across a portfolio of accounts. The Associate Assortment Planner has direct ownership of specific account assortments and is knowledgeable of and understands the goals and priorities of the company as well as specific accounts. This role leverages customer strategy, sales and financial analytics, marketplace insights and the product pipeline to develop recommendations for in line and clip programs specific to each retailer. They will be working closely with members of the Buying, Customer Development, Visual & Space Planning, and Replenishment teams to obtain and communicate the information needed for successful execution of assortment optimization. The Associate Assortment Planner should have proven ability to multi-task and operate independently, with strong analytical, presentation, communication, and Excel skills.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Direct responsibility for specific customer assortments

• Drive actionable assortment recommendations based on sales and financial analytics, marketplace knowledge, retailer strategies and product pipeline strategies

• Forecast and track customer account metrics to ensure budget goals are met and/or risks are communicated

• Identify opportunities to generate and grow sales among accounts

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customer development counterparts

• Prepare and present business updates and reviews to pertinent accounts

• Attend customer appointments and store walks as needed

• Work in conjunction with visual department on assortment maintenance/management

• Manage multiple customer assortments concurrently, while meeting deadlines

• Comply with all company policies and procedures

• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by supervisor

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be proficient in Excel and retail math

• Ability to learn quickly and work in a highly collaborative environment

• Ability to communicate, present and influence credibly at all levels of the organization

• Excellent listening and presentation skills

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills

• Ability to generate ideas

• Must prioritize and manage several different tasks/accounts at once

• An excellent understanding of customer care and service

• Able to solve problems as they arise

• A committed and flexible attitude to the job

• Strong organizational skills

• Good administrative skills

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Attention to detail

• Good budgeting skills and the ability to handle finances / forecasts

• The ability to handle rejection positively and professionally (when a client says no)

• Must have a positive attitude and be a great team player

• Must have a desire to learn, grow and engage

Experience and Credentials

• Bachelor's degree required

• 3+ years of related experience in Merchandising/Buying/Retail/Account Management

• Strong to proficient in MS Office applications with an emphasis on Excel spreadsheet application and PowerPoint; ability to learn systems, Sisense and NetSuite

• Demonstrates understanding of merchandising and retail math