What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchandise Planning Director position at Music & Arts?
The Director of Merchandise Planning will strategically lead and direct Music & Arts’ inventory management, store replenishment, and Open to Buy processes for both “for sale” and “rental fleet” inventory across all categories. In collaboration with the Vice President of Merchandising, this position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive business strategies aimed at driving sales, margin, rental volume, and inventory efficiency, ultimately generating increased profit and cash flow in a multi-channel product and services environment. This individual will provide leadership and direction for the Traditional Planning, Rental Planning, Store Replenishment, and Order Management Teams.
Essential Functions (not all-inclusive) :
- Oversee the inventory management processes to meet and exceed company sales, margin, and inventory efficiency objectives. Develop and implement strategies and supporting tactics to ensure best-in-class inventory management methodologies in demand planning, assortment planning, merchandise financial planning, vendor performance management, and store replenishment.
- Lead the Open to Buy process in line with leadership’s direction. Provide guidance to the team, communicate weekly updates, and conduct monthly OTB reviews.
- Ensure readiness for rental seasons and market-level availability of instruments, accessories, and print aligned with unique educator preferences.
- Improve rental fleet utilization by balancing new inventory purchases, accurately forecasting for the Refurbishment Production teams, and implementing innovative inventory exit strategies.
- Drive inventory availability for our Digital and Retail Customers by achieving and maintaining in-stock and service level targets while improving inventory efficiency through appropriate buying, exiting unproductive inventory, and partnering with our Guitar Center colleagues to balance inventory across the enterprise.
- Work alongside the Category Management team on assortment management and rationalization for proposed assortment transitions.
- Supervise the Order Management team to ensure continuous improvement in customer satisfaction for our school, retail, and digital customers. Consistently monitor order processing metrics, audit special order processes and results, and provide guidance and development to achieve proper service levels for our customers. Manage inventory responsibly.
- Act as a change agent to empower and support the team in eliminating roadblocks, identifying and discontinuing unnecessary tasks, and rejecting the status quo when it is inefficient.
- Continuously analyze macro-level business trends across channels, vendors, stores, categories, and price tiers; develop, communicate, and implement action plans to capitalize on identified opportunities and mitigate liabilities.
- Regularly communicate with merchant partners, vendor partners, and Music & Arts management about business strategies, progress, results, and action plans.
- Develop reporting and diagnostics that enable Merchants and Planners to analyze their business and refine assortments to maximize sales while improving turn, GMROI, and margin.
- Manage, coach, and develop the team.
- Ensure that remodeled and new stores are well-planned and supported to maximize business opportunities.
- Collaborate consistently with Supply Chain, Retail, Digital, School Services, FP&A, Tech, Guitar Center, and other teams to achieve the company’s goals and improve efficiency.
- Create ad-hoc reporting as necessary to supplement existing company-provided reports.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
About Music & Arts
Music & Arts embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. We strive to create lifelong musicians and make a difference in
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