Vice President, Merchandise Planning And Inventory Management (Pittsburgh, Pa Based)

Company Description

At rue21, we believe fashion should be fun and accessible to all. As a leading specialty retailer, we’re different, we’re unique—just like you. rue21 combines a shopping experience designed to fit the individuality of our customers with a community to foster love, advocate change and empower each other through what we wear and what we do. Join our team and be #YOUinrue.

Your Role

The Vice-President of Merchandise Planning and Allocation contributes to rue21’s results by leading the financial planning strategy, inventory management strategies, and execution for stores and ecommerce. You’ll align with merchant leadership to provide guidance for Open to Buy (OTB), KPIs, and adjustments to best meet the needs of rue21’s growing business.

What will you do? - Responsibilities

• Align with Chief Customer Officer to ensure financial plans support national, localized, and online assortments with the appropriate receipt and inventory levels.
• In partnership with Buying and Field, build brand-right plans and inventory strategy focusing on emerging customer needs, leveraging business trends, demographics, climate, customer data, assortment analytics, and field input.
• Commits to supporting rue21’s inclusive environment and sets an example for their team and sphere of influence.
• Drive collaboration with business partners to identify needs and develop scalable solutions.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Identify short and long-term strategies and develop plans to identify the best path forward to drive results.
• Lead the merchandise planning team in the development of pre-season financial plans and management of in-season projections. Deliver exceptional forecast accuracy.
• Provide corporate planning guidance for top line planning; manage communication to respective leaders.
• Establish KPIs and deploy data to ensure shared understanding of successes and opportunities.
• Partner with merchandising to ensure smart risks are being taken, basic businesses are protected, and financial targets are met.
• In partnership with Merchandising and Inventory Management, drive effective Product Lifecycle Management, including Pricing and Promotional guidance.
• Maximize sales, margin, and turn through proper planning and execution of merchandise placement by channel.
• Build high level strategy and plan that supports a curated on-trend assortment.
• Collaborate with Data team to identify standardized reporting needs and participate in their creation.

Inventory Management

• Ensure team is following best practices to deliver consistency in execution.
• Lead Allocation strategies that deliver relevant assortments by store size (space and volume,) type, and segment (localization)
• Lead Space Planning to optimize productivity.
• Deliver effective Inventory Management ROI.

Other

• Present strategies and results to senior leadership.
• Prioritize talent development and formulate succession planning.

Qualifications

What do you bring to the table? - Education and Experience

• 5+ years of managing high performing teams.
• Retail industry experience required.
• Familiarity with MicroStrategy and Cognos.
• 10+ years of merchandise planning experience inclusive of OTB ownership in a specialty retail environment.
• Master’s Degree or other relevant graduate-level degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, and Teams specifically).

Additional Information

What’s in it for you!

Competitive compensation and bonus plan

Comprehensive Benefit Package

• 401K Retirement Plan with company match
• Generous PTO offerings
• Health Savings Account
• Company sponsored Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program - Confidential support programs for associates and families
• Flexible Spending Account/Dependent Care
• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage

Employee Discounts

• 40% off full price merchandise in stores and on-line
• Perks at Work – Savings program on brands, travel, dining, and more

This summary of benefits is reflective of a range of those available and may not apply to all employees.