Senior Omnichannel Merchandise Planner

Lilly Pulitzer

Job Type:

Brand Strategy
Our Brand mission is to inspire confidence and optimism, inviting everyone to shine bright and stand out. 
Our Brand vision statement is: “Create Your Sunshine, A Resort State of Mind”. 
Our Brand Equities are: Casual Glamour, Sunny & Spirited, and Charmingly Disarming.

Job Description

About the Position 

The Sr. Omni Channel Merchandise Planner has responsibility for building and executing the Merchandise Financial and Assortment Plans that support the company's product strategies, optimize gross profit volume, full-price sell through, and achieve growth in the business.  Doing this well will delight the consumer and lead to the profitable growth of the company.  The Sr. Planner must execute a metrics-based approach to merchandise and assortment planning within each quarter, and match the tradeoffs of projecting upside and taking risk on the downside within the business.   Managing the balance between historical information, current trends and quarterly merchandise strategies, along with having good judgement on risk versus growth opportunities, are key responsibilities for the Merchandise Planner.   

A day in the life… 

• Work with the Sr. Manager to develop and execute a merchandise financial plan annually and each quarter at the class and attribute level that supports the company’s product strategies and achieves top and bottom line growth in the business.  

• Collaborate cross functionally to marry the product plan with the channel plans and the company’s financial plan.  Establish targets for sales, inventory, SCP count, AUR, IMU and ST% by category.  Establish targets for surface, delivery (or alternate time horizon), assortment breakdown, end use, and price tier.  Adjust targets each stage as necessary and communicate changes effectively.    

• Work closely with Merchants and Location Planners on projecting SCP unit quantities that achieve DTC needs, Wholesale Bookings Targets, Total Company Net Sales and Full-Price Sell Through  

• Collaborate with partners in product development and production to maximize profitability via costing and unit plans.   

• Provide tools and information as needed for various stages of line development and sign off milestones.  This includes assortment plans, plotting templates, inventory maps, annual and quarterly recaps, sign off decks and exhibits.   

• Marry financial plans to data points generated by other departments (examples include: brand framework, consumers insights, merch strategies and product vision).  Marry financial plans using fashion sense and knowledge of the customer/Lilly Pulitzer® lifestyle.  

•  With the Sr. Manager, take fresh and modern approach to planning process.   Seek opportunities for change and improvement that provide a higher degree of accuracy in our product plans and maximize the strategies we’re developing.  

• The Sr. Planner must provide a high level of attention to Sell Through, AUR and IMU in order to plan future assortments.   

• Conduct a post season assessment of our planning strategies, selling and sell through to improve future assortments and depth opportunities.  Partner with Manager of Location Planning & Allocation to identify methods to communicate to Merchandising what excess inventory issues there are at the end of the cycle.  Using this as a tool to improve future line development, identifying the difference between a depth issue or style issue.  

• Utilize tools such as S5|Stratos and Power BI Merchant Workbench for assessing the business and providing recommendations to help drive the business forward 

• Provide regular updates on the current business via weekly performance recaps and product insights. Collaborate with merchant and allocation partners to identify and lean into opportunities for growth within the current assortments and for future lines in development.  Tie back to merchandise financial plans to inform and adjust future plans.   

• Use analytical skills and discipline to recommend tradeoffs in merchandise assortment which contribute to the profitability of the company, while maintaining long-term fashion leadership position of the brand, are critical.  Know from a fashion and aesthetic standpoint why merchandise sells or doesn’t sell, and be comfortable supporting with quantitative analysis of selling, assortment mix, attribute mix and gross profit.  

• Support current business with ad hoc analysis and reporting as needed.   

• Note, associates may be asked to perform duties that are outside the specific functions that are listed. 

Qualifications for the Position 

• A four-year college degree is required.  A degree in fashion apparel management or a related subject is helpful.  

• Generally, 3-5 years of experience in the apparel retailing business is required, preferably with a women’s fashion, branded, lifestyle apparel company. 

• Effectively collaborate with colleagues, fit with the Company Core Values, and Core Leadership Qualities.   

• The ability to interact effectively with several other departments, including Merchandising, Design, Production, Retail, E-commerce, Sales, Communications, and the Distribution Center is required.  

• Genuine excitement for and appreciation of the Lilly Pulitzer concept.  

• Spend sufficient time in retail stores to understand the customer, merchandise and marketplace.  

• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

• The sense of urgency necessary in the apparel industry is required. 

• Strong capabilities with Microsoft Windows, Excel and Word are important.   

• Knowledge or experience in Centric, Looker, Power BI, S5 Stratos or similar product management, merchandise planning, BI tools are preferred 

Our Core Values: The Lilly Way. Rooted in our bold, original, and inclusive brand outlook, these principles define how we do things The Lilly Way.  

• We take pride in the pursuit of excellence  

• We create our own path 

• We become stronger together 

• We operate with integrity 

• We make the world a brighter place 

• We continuously improve 

• We have fun in the process 

Doing Our Part 

As a company we commit to corporate social responsibility.  We believe in doing the right thing for our people, the places we work, and our planet.  We believe in a respectful and inclusive workplace. We recognize the importance of serving the communities where our employees work and live. We are cognizant of the impact that our operations can have on the environment and actively explore and pursue environmentally-friendly processes throughout our business.  This position is expected to contribute to the advancement of these principles.  

A Little More to Know… 

• This position is classified as full-time salaried; it is exempt and is not eligible for overtime.  This position is eligible for standard company benefits.  

• This position is required to maintain a structured hybrid work schedule based out of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. This hybrid schedule, which includes work done in the King of Prussia Office as well as your Home Office will be determined by your supervisor.  

• The position requires some domestic travel.   

• Given the seasonality of the business, this position may require flexible, additional working hours during peak periods. 

• This position is expected to collaborate effectively with other individuals in alignment with our Core Values and Core Leadership Qualities. 

• This position requires compliance with Lilly Pulitzer policies and a detailed Code of Conduct as outlined in the Employee Handbook.   

• This position is reviewed annually. 

Lilly Pulitzer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against qualified applicants based on race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, military and veteran status, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, reproductive health decision-making, lawful off-duty use of marijuana, any other characteristic protected by law, or any combination of two or more of the characteristics listed here.

Lilly Pulitzer participates in E-Verify. Details in English and Spanish. Right to Work Statement in English and Spanish.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please contact the Lilly Pulitzer Talent Development Department at 610-878-5550.

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