Director of Planning and Allocation

About Us:

WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer with over 1,700 stores across 30 countries worldwide. WHSmith North America, incorporating Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, represents over half of the Company’s international store estate, with a collection of attractive, successful specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.

Benefits & More:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• FREE Life Insurance
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flex Time Off
• 401k with company match
• Amazing Employee Discount at all our stores
• Career Advancement Opportunities

What You’ll Do

• Operate as the financial lead for Merchandising and own the merchandise planning, inventory management, allocation and replenishment, financial planning forecasting, and financial analysis across all product categories. This includes key financial metrics, achievement of financial parameters, and leading the business to make profitable merchandise decisions.
• Maximize sales, margin, and turn through proper planning and execution of merchandise placement.
• Lead and manage the Merchandise Planning team in the development, analysis and revision of sales, inventory, markdowns and profit.
• Ensure that the financial strategy pursued is consistent with the budget and profit parameters.
• Accountable to manage the company’s inventory ownership positions within the financial parameters, that support the sales and forward forecast projections aligned with the effective utilization of cash flow.
• Maintain risk assessment models, rolling OTB forecasts and strict merchandise financial plans that are used to determine buy levels and maintain profitability to budgets.
• Drive allocation strategies, processes and procedures to achieve the financial objectives of the company; update and improve as needed to accommodate increased complexities.
• Identify and address merchandise opportunities in specific stores by analyzing sales and inventory performance as well as space productivity.
• Incorporate company’s financial objectives into department/class merchandise plans.
• Manage monthly forecasting reviews – Deliver results to the Vice President and other key constituents.
• Track the performance of aged/clearance merchandise; initiate appropriate actions in order to achieve the seasonal performance goals.
• Manage the flow of receipts.
• Partner with all cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives.
• Recommend and implement technology to support ongoing improvement in process and efficiency based on the demands and growth of the business.
• Drive new business development from business case through implementation.
• Propose and deliver business recaps and financial strategies. Through the planning team, lead MPR (Merchandise Plan Review) for the company’s merchandise categories.
• Hire, coach and develop a quality team including, development planning, succession planning and regular performance reviews to address personal growth and development needed to foster a productive, focused team.
• Provide leadership and the necessary formal and informal training, including one-on-one development, needed to produce a team that contributes consistent financial growth to the business.
• Interact and collaborate with all areas of the company, including Merchandising, Stores, the Distribution Center and Senior Management.
• Ensure in-stock position on core and key items.
• Develop and present information to executive teams
• Recommend action and communicate issues that relate to Merchandising and may hinder Company’s ability to achieve our financial objectives.
• Operate as a supporter and change agent for new system processes and implementations.

What You Bring:

• 4-year degree required, advanced degree a plus.
• 8-12 years of related work experience in Merchandising, Planning and Allocation, with a minimum of 10 years management experience.
• Experience working in a high volume, fast paced, multi-channel retail environment.
• Customer-centric perspective.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic thinking – able to take effectively develop strategy using an analytical approach to develop and refine.
• Proven track record for driving the business.
• Strategic and innovative thinker.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Strong leadership skills focused on developing a collaborative team environment ability to work across the organization, lead cross-functional teams, and influence with and without direct authority.
• Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities.
• Courageous leadership style – willing and able to take calculated risks to push to future state.
• Financial acumen.
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office (WORD, Excel Power Point, Publisher)
• Oracle or other planning database experience a plus

We can’t wait to meet you so apply today!

Marshall Retail Group prides itself on creating unique experiences for customers by developing distinctive retail store concepts that feature and highlight the local culture, community, and lifestyle of the cities in which they are located. InMotion Entertainment Group is the largest airport-based electronics retailer in travel locations globally, with access and insight into the latest technologies for business and leisure travelers, InMotion offers lifestyle products and electronics that include a wide breadth of headphones, mobile power, Bluetooth speakers and travel accessories.

EEO/ADA/DFWP

WH Smith North America is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin/ancestry, age, gender identity, gender expression, military/veteran status, marital status, disability status or any other basis prohibited by law. At WH Smith North America, it’s about each person bringing passion and skills to a dynamic and inclusive workplace!

WHSmith North America