$68K - 90K a year
The Sr. Associate, Merchandise Planner is responsible for managing specific product categories, creating sales and receipt plans, and forecasting KPIs. This role involves analyzing data to support reforecasting and presenting insights to upper management.
Candidates should have 3-5 years of experience in merchandising, retail buying, or planning. A bachelor's degree is required, along with strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
The Sr. Associate, Merchandise Planner position serves as the business manager for specific product categories. This role is responsible for the creation of channel level sales, receipt plans and forecasting KPI’s. The planner is responsible for analyzing data, correlating historical and current trends to support forward reforecasting, presenting, and supporting the plan positions through regular communication of risks and opportunities. This position works concurrently across multiple seasons to optimize inventory and sales to achieve financial results. Category Ownership: •Create and maintain business plans on the category/department/division level by month in accordance with corporate goals •Create and manage OTB based on timely and accurate forecasts •Drive category performance across all key KPIs inclusive of sales, receipts, and gross margin •Present at monthly business meetings and provide detailed insights and strategic recommendations to upper management Business Analysis: •Prepare, update, and distribute key daily/weekly reports •Review and analyze data to help inform recommendations and reforecasting •Analyze performance down to an item level on a weekly basis to optimize assortment, pricing strategies and inventory management •Prepare and analyze hindsight documents to measure past performance inform future season plans and buys. •Support the merchandising team with pricing and promotions based on weekly analysis against plans and forecasts •Support merchandising team in pulling analysis to support key assortment and investment strategies. Strategic Partnership: •Collaborate and partner with Merchandising to formulate pre-season sales/GM/Inventory flow goals that tie to the topline benchmark metric and reflect learnings from hindsight process. •Partner with Merchandising to build assortment strategies that tie to topline metrics. •Support Merchants in presenting pre-season financials and strategies to upper management. Cross Functional Expertise: •Manage effective cross-functional relationships to drive business through recommendations on pricing/promotion and inventory allocation/management. •Provide direct support to the Planning Manager and Merchandising team on all planning functions and initiatives. •In conjunction with Manager, make recommendations for business adjustments based on analysis of current business; be involved with the decision-making process. EDUCATION: •Bachelor’s degree ESSENTIAL CRITERIA & SKILLS: •3-5 years of merchandising, retail buying, planning experience •Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, collaborative environment •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to analyze data and draw conclusions and recommendations •Strong retail math skills and sound understanding of merchandise planning •Strong organizational, planning, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills •Demonstrate effective leadership skills, being able to work autonomously as well as in a team •Sense of urgency with demonstrated success in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment •Flexibility and the ability to prioritize multiple deliverables •Self-motivated with high level of accountability, critical attention to detail, deadlines and reporting •Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Excel), PowerBI Compensation Range: $67,704.00 - $90,272.00 Claire’s is committed to adhering to all applicable company policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. All positions will be compensated at or above the legally mandated minimum wage for the location in which work is performed. The final compensation will be determined by various factors such as relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location. Benefits for full-time employees included medical, dental, and vision insurance, voluntary welfare plans, bonus plan eligibility, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave. Benefits for part-time employees included voluntary welfare plans, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave in required states. *Sick Time: For the State of Washington, all employees will accrue paid sick time at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Claire's is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. We will accommodate applicants' needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Please inform us of the accommodation(s) that you may require. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. To request accommodation, please email Benefits@claires.com. Only messages sent for this purpose will be considered. The Claire's Experience. We’re a global brand powerhouse for self - expression. We are dedicated to making this happen through our products, experiences and most importantly, our people. Do work that inspires. We’re passionate about our purpose. We bring joy by opening the door to self-discovery. Every day, we get to encourage and celebrate self-expression with each accessory choice and piercing decision we help our customers make. We think that today – more than ever – encouraging others to freely express their many sides is a pretty great thing to be a part of. Play as a team. We support each other and strive to make personal connections. Because treating each other with respect helps us achieve our individual and common goals. Encouraging our team members to forge their own way is key to what makes us stronger and more innovative as an organization. Be true to you. The real you is inspirational, and that’s who we want you to be at Claire’s. We want you to #bethemost - the most you. When you feel free to show up as the real you, it encourages others to do the same. You make a difference just by being who you are. Every day, we have the opportunity together to promote an inclusive and diverse culture that makes us all richer. Evolve yourself. We want you to be the most you possible. But just as our styles evolve, so do we. That’s why we encourage you to keep growing, changing and reinventing yourself. Helping you grow and achieve your aspirations is important to us. We are proud of our many employees who have moved across and through the organization, taking on new opportunities and inspiring us all to dream and achieve. Claire's Values Learn more about our company and values @ Claire's Values Available Roles We have sales associate, part-time manager, assistant manager, and manager roles available in store. We also have district and regional sales leadership roles as well as corporate roles. Learn more via Job Search.
This job posting was last updated on 9/25/2025