ASSISTANT PLANNER

About this opportunity...

The Assistant Planner is a learning role that allows you to build a foundation of skills for your future career as a planner. As an Assistant Planner, we invest in you through structured training and one on one apprenticeship with a skilled Planning Manager. You will begin to build your planning skills by contributing to the management of in-season plans and building of pre-season plans in support of regional strategies. You will learn how to maximize sales potential and minimize risks at the region and store level for a specific business. As an Assistant Planner, you will develop an understanding of key performance indicators, such as performance to plan, same-store sales and turn, to support your recommendations.
The base salary for this role is $65,000. The salary listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards vary by position and location.

What you will do and what you will learn...

In-Season:

• Analyze performance using standardized reports prepared monthly.
• Review future plans based on historical performance and knowledge of future business conditions (e.g., product availability and assortment strategies).
• Identify risks and/or opportunities by product and Region.
• Begin to learn how to propose recommendations (i.e., influence changes to be made) to region plans to Location Planning Manager and implement approved changes into the planning system.
• Prepare hindsight analysis and collaborate with Merchandise Planning counterpart at key fiscal points (e.g. events/holidays and quarterly).
• Partner with Location Planning Manager to conduct hindsight reviews to present findings to Senior leadership.
• Propose recommendations in order to capitalize on opportunities and/or reduce risk for next year (e.g., influence product flow changes to drive sales/reduce liabilities).
• Work with cross-functional teams (Store Planning and Allocation) to implement Store strategies and address callouts and errors.
• Utilize forecast to evaluate future Store plans against system parameters.

Pre-Season:

• Analyze historical performance and develop skills to propose flow strategies to Location Planning Manager
• Partner with Merchandise Planning counterpart to inform the Chain plans of region recommendation.
• Under Location Planning Manager's direction, develop Region plans by applying their independent hindsight analysis and known assortment strategies to update the initial system generated plans.
• Review higher product levels to validate the mix of assortment within a Region using additional reporting tools.
• Present recommended plans to Location Planning Manager in a formal meeting for continued learning
• Recommend store lists for limited door product opportunities and analyze different store groups (e.g., door rankings, target demographics) to determine location strategies and initiatives.
• Modify system generated Store level plans by resolving outliers and exceptions.

What you need to be successful...

• Strong communication skills: You can "read the situation" you actively listen, ask clarifying questions, can weave a story out of numbers and demonstrate the ability to build relationships.
• Flexibility: You can pivot, are adaptable, and receptive to feedback.
• Results Driven: You are tenacious, and achievement focused. You can prioritize your work and deliver it with accuracy.
• Intellectually curious: You can analyze and draw conclusions, are a critical thinker, and see the big picture.
• Resilient: You are persistent and persuasive. You stay focused on your goals and finding systematic and creative solutions to problems.
• Analytical Mindset: Helping to drive a business depends strong analytical, quantitative and Excel skills and retail math knowledge.
• Bachelor's Degree required.

Perks and Benefits of joining our team...
Our Associates are at the heart of everything we do and we're proud to offer a range of benefits that reflect how much we value their contributions. Here's a peek into what you can expect as an eligible Ross Associate:

• A broad range of affordable health insurance options & personal medical plan concierge
• 401(k) with employer match and Life insurance
• Ample PTO including accrued vacation, paid holidays, diversity day, summer Fridays and the ability to purchase additional vacation.
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Access to health and wellness benefits such as BetterHelp and Headspace
• Charitable donations matched by Ross Stores Foundation
• And more....

*benefits vary by level and position and are subject to change
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