Associate Merchandise Planner

Company Overview

Ralph Lauren Corporation is a globally recognized leader in designing, marketing, and distributing premium lifestyle products across five main categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. With over 50 years of history, the company has developed a strong brand presence internationally through its multiple labels, including Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren, and others.

At Ralph Lauren, there is a strong commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion through talent development, education, communication, employee groups, and celebration of diverse perspectives.

Role Summary

The Associate Merchandise Planner will support the Senior Planner in in-season forecasting, trading, and planning for future seasons to maximize sales and profitability. This role involves collaborating with assortment planning and buying teams to analyze seasonal performance and contribute to strategic decisions for upcoming buying seasons.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze weekly, monthly, and ad hoc trade reports, summarizing key findings and necessary actions.
• Use trade data and personal insight to influence forecasting, promotion, and markdown planning.
• Manage channel availability and make appropriate trading adjustments.
• Produce accurate WSSI forecasts reflecting short- and long-term risks and opportunities, communicating impacts to the planning team.
• Contribute to hindsight analysis and develop forward-looking strategies, sharing clear and objective learnings with the planner.
• Support forecasting for product line cards to optimize sales potential and stock availability across multiple channels, while identifying risks and opportunities.
• Oversee seasonal records and delivery tracking, updating forecasts to reflect changing risks and opportunities, communicating effects on end-of-season stock goals.
• Manage seasonal markdown actions and communicate these to retail stores.
• Lead regular store visits to analyze store reports and provide feedback for continuous improvement.
• Conduct comprehensive competitor analyses to position Ralph Lauren effectively within the wider retail market, identifying potential opportunities and risks.
• Actively pursue personal and team development, encouraging improvements in workflows and system capabilities.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members, ensuring clarity on processes and goals.
• Participate in company initiatives and team wellness activities, emphasizing psychological safety.
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with buying, allocations, ecommerce, and store teams.
• Collaborate with assortment planning and buying partners to review seasonal insights and influence future purchasing decisions based on analysis and historic data.

Required Skills

• Strong analytical and numerical abilities to interpret complex data.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, able to convey messages clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently with a results-driven and innovative mindset.
• Strong logical reasoning and problem-solving aptitude.
• Positive, solution-focused approach with adaptability to change.
• Highly organized, capable of prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently under deadlines.
• Self-aware, receptive to feedback, and committed to continual personal improvement.
• Team-oriented, skilled at building cooperative relationships.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and business intelligence reporting tools.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy.
• Exemplary role model behavior within the team environment.