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Inventory Planner, Entertaining

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
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About the Team
You will be part of the Inventory Planning organization responsible for the strategic planning of inventory positions to drive sales, manage inventory turn and meet or exceed financial targets for your area of responsibility. Inventory associates are innovators, optimizers and problem solvers who are constantly seeking opportunities to move the business forward. You will collaborate with other business functions to support a product strategy intended to meet our customer's needs.
 
About the Role 
The Inventory Planner is responsible for delivering a best-in-class customer experience through the strategic management of inventory for a specific product category. This role will partner with the Merchandising, Sourcing, E-commerce teams and counterparts in Retail Inventory and Distribution to maximize sales and in-stocks, optimize inventory turn, and drive profitable growth. This position reports into a Merchandise Planning Manager or Director and is responsible for meeting departmental sales, inventory and margin goals as outlined in the financial budget.
 
You’re excited about this opportunity because you will... 

  • Develop, execute, and communicate merchandise financial plans and strategies that support the company's overall merchandising objectives for a specific product line 
  • Collaborate with Product Managers to develop top down financial plans at the product line/category/collection levels and reconcile to the bottom-up item plans to optimize sales, margin, and inventory productivity across channels 
  • Develop item demand plans collaboratively with Product Mangers to align with company initiatives, maximize demand, and ensure proper inventory levels are maintained to drive sales 
  • Collaborate with Product Managers on planning and forecasting items showcased in catalog and direct mail marketing 
  • Develop regular forecast updates across product lines and channels based on business performance in partnership with the Product Team and the Director of Planning 
  • Participate in regular business reviews providing analysis and insights on business trends 
  • Manage open-to-buy dollars for assigned categories  
  • Determine inventory buys for product assortments in alignment with inventory plans.  
  • Proactively identify and quantify opportunities and risks and propose solutions that will drive the business 
  • Provide items forecasts to buying team to ensure raw materials/finished goods flow seamlessly through the supply chain to meet demand and minimize out of stocks 
  • Develop and provide appropriate business analysis to support decision making, influence future purchases, and product strategies 
  • Ensure proper inventory levels are maintained through product allocations and replenishment to support sales and inventory productivity goals 
  • Develop sales and inventory plans for new retail outlets as necessary 
  • Work with Product Managers to determine and manage exit strategies, recommending items for clearance and controlling aged inventory 
  • Partner with the Director of Planning and Inventory Management to develop planning tools and methods to improve business management and improve results 
 
Why you will love working at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. 

  • We’re a successful, fast-growing company with an entrepreneurial vibe 
  • A technologically and data-driven business 
  • Competitive salaries and comprehensive health benefits 
  • We’re at the forefront of tech and retail, redefining technology for the next generation 
  • We’re passionate about our internal and external clients and live/breathe the client experience 
  • We get to be creative daily 
  • A smart, experienced leadership team that wants to do it right and is open to new ideas 
  • We believe in autonomy and reward taking initiative 
  • We have fun! 
 
We’re excited about you because...  

  • You have a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration; concentrations in Finance, Marketing, Retail Management, or Supply Chain a plus 
  • You have 3-5 years of experience in retail planning or direct to consumer environment preferred. High levels of critical thinking, monitoring, coordination, persuasion, systems analysis and evaluation, judgment and decision-making, time management, organization, reasoning, and documentation 
  • Strong initiative, self-motivation, attention to detail, and result driven orientation 
  • Strong retail math acumen, including elements of markup, margin planning, open to buy, and inventory productivity measures 
  • Moderate levels of learning strategies, instructing, complex problem solving, technology design, troubleshooting, and flexibility 
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and multi-tasking skills 
  • Team-oriented with strong management skills 
  • Moderate to high level of English reading, writing, speaking, and active listening 
 
Technical Competencies required: 

  • Proficient use of MS Office Products, MRP and ERP systems; strong MS Excel skills preferred 

 
Physical Requirements: 
  • Intermittently lift, carry, push, and pull up to 20 pounds.  
  • Continuously see, sit, and balance.  
  • Frequently have visual acuity, hear, and talk.  
  • Frequently have repetitive use of wrists, hands, and fingers and grasping.  
  • Intermittently stand, stoop, bend, twist, crouch, kneel, crawl, walk on level and uneven surfaces, climb stairs and ladders, operate foot and hand controls, reach above shoulders, squeeze, and have repetitive use of arms.  
  • Constant use of computer.  
  • Exposure to medium levels of noise.  
  • Exposure to mild temperatures of heat and cold.  
  • Exposure to moderate temperatures of cold; mild heat.  
  • Exposure to electrical equipment.  
  • Non-smoking environment  

 
Benefits: 
Once you are here, you can look forward to a wide variety of benefits designed to help you grow, personally and professionally, to keep you healthy, to prepare you for the unexpected, to care for your family and to build a secure future. Depending on your position and your location, here’s a look at what you might be eligible for:  

  • A generous discount on all Williams Sonoma Inc. brands through multiple shopping channels 
  • A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities 
  • Paid vacations, holidays and other time-off programs 
  • Health benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care tax-free spending accounts; medical, family and bereavement leave; same-sex domestic partner benefits; short- and long-term disability programs; life and travel insurance; an employee assistance program 
  • Tax-free commuter benefits 
  • A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health 
  • In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University  
  • Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities 
  • Location specific sample sales 
  • A business casual work environment 
  • San Francisco based bike share program 
  • Time off to volunteer 
  • Matching donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations 
  • Company-sponsored community involvement 
  • Various discounts on local businesses 
 
 
WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.