Merchandise Assortment Planning Portfolio Manager

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Job Summary

The Merchandise Assortment Planning Portfolio Manager serves as Merchandise Category Management and Product Line Review (PLR)/Business Review (BR) subject matter expert accountable for$10B in sales. Manager will be responsible for PLR/BR workload management and successful Planner guidance & leadership through optimal best in class Assortment Planning practices. Focuses on effective implementation of Role of Category through product assortments, item selection including brand & vendor performance to drive optimal assortment decisions and localization opportunities. Provides insights and guidance for overall category advisement for the core merchandising team. The Manager will be responsible to ensure the assortment lifecycle development and necessary activities are achieving optimal productivity improvements through product line reviews (PLRs) and business reviews (BR). The Manager is responsible for actively participating in day to day PLR & BR activities when necessary, providing guidance and coaching for planners within area of responsibility through end to end product group life cycle planning process from the initial assortment kickoff through final sign off including final stocking execution. Actively driving to deliver value added application of core strategies (e.g role/intent of the category), partnering and synthesizing cross-functional team assortment recommendations (e.g. Finance, Supply Chain, Pricing, etc) and Assortment localization opportunities. The Merchandise Assortment Portfolio Manager will be responsible for ensuring the team is delivering on the expectations of our merchants, customers and shareholders, by owning and delivering on the following deliverables; Product Line Review and Business Review process owner Category Management insights, white space opportunities and analytical insights Analyzing and recommending localized assortment opportunities within the Assortment Optimization solution The Manager will assume accountability for direct ownership for their area of responsibility through the entire PLR process deliverables & success metrics. Will also help foster & own cross functional alignment to core strategies, productivity improvement opportunities, category management insights through effective merchandise assortment decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• PLR/BR process owner for identified area, delivers all aspects of the end to end planning process including Pre-coordination session, assortment kickoff meeting, cluster strategy review, supplier planning sessions, calibration sessions w/ cross functional teams (e.g. Finance, Inventory, Pricing, Field Merchandising) and leadership review meetings including final assortment publication
• Responsible for insights ensuring optimal Assortment Planning & Category Management best practices delivering on all commitments and ownership of the PLR & BR line reviews.
• Responsible for Assortment Planner day to day management to ensure team is optimizing assortments, identifying gaps including finalization of product detail cost/retail/case pack/supplier, etc.
• Continue providing recommendations & upgrade opportunities for Assortment Optimization tools ensuring they are effectively supporting the PLR/BR process
• Ensures enterprise portfolio objectives are being achieved in Role of the Category, Localization, Pro Growth, Private Brands and Assortment/Space Productivity
• Acts as Category Management expert, coach & consultant to the business helping define customer path to purchase decisions leading Merchants through the evaluation and determination of store clustering and assortment selection (e.g. shop, drop, keep)
• Owns teaching and delivering configuration of the store stocking matrix with approved cluster strategy and product performance information. Ensures team is performing necessary updates and overrides of item recommendations as needed ensuring accuracy and seamless transitions to support team members.
• Train, mentor and when necessary integrate Assortment Planning tool results with product knowledge, merchandising programs, and customer needs to provide practical recommendations and deep analytical insight to others.
• Collaborates regularly with cross functional team members & Merchants to interpret AO recommendations for current items and to develop assortment plans for new items.
• Actively shares relevant information with various business areas of Lowe’s (e.g., Visual Space Planning, GFO, Pro, Field Merchandising and Logistics) to ensure Merchandising’s vision and strategies are effectively implemented.
• Lead category management conversations with Merchandising, advising them on appropriate consumer decision trees and attributes for store clustering and assortment planning
• Lead others in linking Assortment Planning tool results to the overall end to end PLR/BR business process
• Provides necessary guidance when necessary to team cross functional members and Merchant teams for execution of the Product Line Review.
• Assist with presentations, as needed, to all s of corporate management.
• Provides status reporting on all PLR activities & accomplishments

Required Qualifications

• 5 years comparable experience

• 5 years experience with assortment and/or merchandising planning (e.g. categories, products, processes, etc.)

• 3 years experience executing on project plans in a cross-functional environment

• Experience working for a large retail organization, preferably in Merchandising Buying, Merchandise Planning, or Assortment Planning

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Business, Retail Management, Finance or related field

• AND

• 5 years of experience in Merchandise Buying, Merchandise Financial Planning and/or Assortment Planning related work experience

• 5 years experience working in a retail environment

• 3 years Experience with retail assortment store clustering

• 3 years Experience with Assortment Planning Software (e.g. SAS, JDA, Oracle, etc)

• Strong Business Acumen with an understanding of how assortment planning can influence results of various functions across the organization

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2023 sales of more than $86 billion, Lowe’s operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Lowe’s is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.

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