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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The merchandise planning team is responsible for partnering closely with various business units, understanding financial goals and maximizing return on investment in space and inventory. By leveraging business intelligence, financial metrics, competitive benchmarking and consumer demand, the merchandise planning team delivers floor layouts and planograms which exceed consumer expectations by ensuring they will find the categories and products to meet their need.
As a Merchandise Analyst, you will be responsible for capturing each business unit's strategy and criteria and translating the information to category merchandise plans. By combining competitive insights, key performance indicators and space analytics, you will develop and execute store planograms, maintaining visual standards while achieving financial goals as defined by category.
As a member of the Merchandise Planning team, you will be accountable for continually evaluating and identifying opportunities within an assigned category space to assure maximum financial performance. You will be part of a fast paced environment, often managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing them in accordance with the challenges of rapidly changing retail environment.
LOCATION
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
QUALIFICATIONS >>
- Bachelors degree in a quantitative discipline: Economics, IT, Supply Chain, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science
- Strong academic performance. Minimum GPA 3.2
- Desire to create and influence change via behavior and enthusiasm in his/her work - implementing processes and driving mindset changes to improve productivity and/or profitability.
- Challenge the status quo -- must be analytically inclined and have a passion for finding those causal factors that can constrain performance and profits. Is able to drive for and deliver process improvements
- Prides him/herself on attention to Detail - will be responsible for creating and delivering quality planograms for transitions and projects for assigned area of responsibility; must gain credibility and earn trust of key executives across the organization and store leadership teams; emphasis on accuracy, attention to detail, and an inquisitive mindset.
- Conflict Resolution --ability to mediate differences of opinion and facilitate conflict resolution. Must be comfortable in utilizing/presenting data to minimize opinion based decisions.
- Exceptional Analytical Skills & diligent about taking action based on findings - will be responsible for productivity of planograms; must possess analytical and financial literacy aimed at ensuring that our business intentions generate sustainable returns on investment for the Sears investor.
- Technically minded - should be comfortable with the structured logical thinking required to write formulas to be effective with planogram generation
- Strong Communication Skills - must excel at communicating complex information in simple to understand yet actionable ways (words/numbers/pictures). Must be proficient at communicating across all levels across the organization (including senior management).
- Focused on Self Development - must have a strong desire to learn about the business from as many sources as possible (internal, external) as well as teaching others. This requires a willingness and interest in interacting with others from across the organization as needed.
- Advanced Excel Skills (experience with writing formulas)
- Permanent Employment Authorization/U.S. Citizen
- Previous experience with SQL, ability to write code in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications-Access and Excel), queries and macros are a plus (but not required).
- Retail job experience, retail/supply chain course work, or internship a plus (but not required)
RESPONSIBILITIES >>
Throughout your career in Merchandise Planning you will be exposed to continuous training and development opportunities. In addition to in-depth training on the specific tools and systems required for success in your first assignment, you will be assigned a mentor to lead you thru your development and guide you in your new role. After your training, you will be actively engaged in your new role as a Merchandise Planning Analyst and be a part of a high-performance management team. You will interact daily with Merchandising, Inventory and Store Operations, as well as, analyze information such as sales, margin and inventory return on space. The Merchandise Planning Analyst plays a critical role in helping to identify opportunities to maximize space productivity.
Merchandise Planning offers exciting career opportunities as well as a critical foundation for a majority of any future assignments at Sears Holdings. In this area, your performance and leadership skills will be challenged, developed, and shaped. Your advancement opportunities and career path within Inventory Management as well as the rest of the company are endless!
CAREER PATH>>
Merchandise Analyst > Senior Merchandise Analyst > Merchandise Manager > Director
Merchandise Analyst > Store Panning Analyst > Senior Store Planning Analyst > Store Planning Manager >Director
Merchandise Analyst > Training Analyst > Senior Training Analyst > Training Manager > Director
Merchandise Analyst > Space Optimization Analyst > Senior Optimization Analyst > Optimization Manager > Director
* Please review our staffing process to learn how to be considered for any of our college programs.
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