Category Planning Manager

About Stio®

Stio® is a versatile mountain lifestyle brand that creates, develops, and markets stylish, practical, and innovative apparel, footwear, and accessories inspired by the mountain culture. Headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, the brand offers products through multiple channels including Stio.com, catalogs, B2B, and its Mountain Studio® stores.

Passionate about mountain living, Stio acts as a steward for the natural resources that support it. The company partners with environmental organizations like Protect Our Winters and the Conservation Alliance, prioritizes the use of Bluesign® approved textiles, audits supply chain sustainability, and upholds responsible workplace practices. Stio promotes inclusivity and accessibility for all, embracing diversity across race, gender, beliefs, and abilities in its community and workplace.

Your Role

The Category Planning Manager will develop and communicate detailed, style-level strategic plans aimed at boosting sales, managing inventory efficiently, and increasing profit margins. Utilizing past sales data, current seasonal trends, and close collaboration with multiple departments, this role entails responsibility for pre-season purchasing and real-time inventory management within designated categories.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage pre-season item-level sales and inventory plans based on historical trends, merchandising plans, and business goals.
• Continuously update item-level forecasts during the season and conduct targeted analyses to detect inventory risks or opportunities, ensuring alignment with monthly forecasts and channel objectives.
• Analyze and report monthly sales performance against plans and previous years, delivering insights and recommendations to cross-functional teams.
• Prepare and present category strategy presentations during Open-To-Buy meetings.
• Collaborate with Product teams on seasonal line development, providing analysis to help meet financial and KPI targets.
• Plan and oversee style, color, and size purchasing decisions across all sales channels.
• Design pricing and markdown strategies focused on maximizing sales and margins while achieving sell-through goals, working with Inventory Planners to implement.
• Manage inventory distribution across sales channels for assigned categories, coordinating with marketing and channel leadership for optimization.
• Maintain the SKU Master database, including creation of new SKUs and managing product life cycles.
• Seek opportunities to enhance processes, tools, and meetings continuously.
• Work collaboratively across departments to drive shared objectives and key business outcomes.
• Demonstrate commitment to Stio's Mission, Vision, and Values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, engineering, economics, operations management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of four years’ experience in planning, finance, or supply chain analysis roles.
• Strong grasp of financial metrics such as sales, gross margin, return rates, inventory levels, sell-through, and turnover, and strategies to improve them.
• Exceptional analytical capabilities with the ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations and workflows.
• Proficiency in advanced Excel features including pivot tables, charts, and logical functions (SUMIF, VLOOKUP, etc.).
• Experience with planning software is required; familiarity with Toolio preferred.
• Critical thinker with problem-solving aptitude, eager to drive results and optimize processes.
• Dependable and team-oriented with strong organizational skills, self-motivation, and keen attention to detail.
• Energetic and results-driven, open to making improvements and embracing change.
• Ability and willingness to manage a variety of ad hoc reporting and analytical projects.
• Proven capability to prioritize effectively to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Additional Information and Benefits

• Requires ability to remain seated in a stationary position for approximately 75% of the workday.
• Offers medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Company-paid long-term disability coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program support.
• 401k retirement plan with company match.
• Generous paid time off policies.
• Access to product testing perks and other employee benefits.

Compensation includes a competitive base salary ranging from $70,000 to $85,000, plus incentives and benefits. Final salary will be determined by factors such as experience and qualifications. This job description reflects the current role but may evolve based on business needs. Stio® is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion across all groups including minorities, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.