Merchandise Planning Manager

Start your day with a sun salutation! No idea what that means? That’s okay. We are a yoga-inspired athletic retail company looking for open-minded and inspired individuals to join our team as we continue to grow and expand all over the world.



Do you have an eye for fashion, and brain for numbers? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding leadership skills? Are you seeking a new challenge and the ability to have an impact on how lululemon athletica merchandise? lululemon athletica is seeking an enthusiastic and analytical individual to be its Merchandise Planning Manager based at our Store Support Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

As the leader of the planning team, the Merchandise Planning Manager plays a vital role in the creation and management of lululemon’s merchandise buy plan – managing sales, gross margin projections, inventory turns and receipt flows with OTB for retail and e-commerce channels. This role will collaborate with Finance and Store Operations, to ensure store and merchandise plans are aligned for optimal sales efficiency while partnering with the allocation and merchant team to identify key business opportunities. The Planning Manager provides context, direction, development, coaching, mentoring and motivation to the planning team. 

What you'll be doing:
• Oversee the development of pre-season weekly sales, gross margin, markdown and inventory plans, and managing stock turn by category and key item from top down and bottom up
• Oversee in-season management of stock to sales levels with OTB by category
• Play a key role in establishing sales, gross margin, inventory targets and analyzing/maintaining the desired level of stock cover across all categories
• Review analysis and hindsight of prior season and current trends, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend strategies to achieve financial goals
• Partner with Finance, Merchandisers, Allocations, Store development and Store operations to advise on store budgets and sales goals
• Re-cap and summarize key highlights of current and future business for senior management
• Manage and oversee planning process, while driving new processes and promoting consistency, ownership and empowerment across planning team.
• Develop training program for planning team members
• Maintain knowledge of Maple Lake planning system and builds an effective relationship with software representatives
• Collaborate with Analysts and Merchants in weekly business review
• Partner with allocation and merchant team in creating store clustering for assortment planning, allocation and replenishment
• Monitor stock actual performance versus plan and makes recommendations
• Monitor company performance and assesses potential risks to the company objectives ensuring maximum potential is reached
• Provide high level fabric demand forecasts for key volume fabrics
• This position will work one 4-hour shift per week on the retail floor

The ideal candidate:
• 5+ years experience working as a Merchandise Planner preferably within a large, vertical retail environment
• Advance knowledge & skills of merchandise planning for a vertical retail environment
• Exceptional analytical skills – accounting and/or business analysis background an asset
• Experience leading a team
• Proven attention to detail
• Advance computer skills, including MS Office, especially Excel
• Advance ability in using a merchandise planning software – Arthur, Maple Lake etc
• Team player with the ability to work independently
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written
• Ability and willingness to accept and provide feedback
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills

Our “must haves�:
• Proven work ethic with utmost integrity
• Desire to excel and succeed
• Actively live and breathe the lululemon culture and lifestyle
• Self-awareness, with a desire for constant self improvement (goal –oriented)
• Entrepreneurial spirit and an egoless nature
• Self motivated, passionate, empathetic, approachable
• Outgoing, energetic, upbeat and fun!

Why join?
As a member of the lululemon team, you will work in an environment that fosters personal development, health and fitness, and community involvement. We emphasize goal setting and self-improvement, we give progressive benefits (like free yoga classes!), and we have a lot of fun. lululemon is growing fast and determined to elevate the world to a place of greatness - it's the perfect time to join us and explore the possibilities!

To apply for this position please click here and submit your resume and cover letter directly to this posting.

NOTE: Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest.