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Assistant Merchandise Planning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

JCPenney

Assistant Merchandise Manager

Orlando, FL · On-site

$43K/yr

Overview ASM Merchandise As the Assistant Manager of Merchandise, you will contribute to profitable ... Maintains high merchandise presentations standards, actively leads the team in planning and ...

Dollartree

As a Merchandise Assistant Manager at Dollar Tree, you'll join our Store Manager in leading a ... Plan and implement monthly Sales Planners Your Skills and Experience: * Prior retail and management ...

JCPenney

Assistant Merchandise Manager

Metairie, LA · On-site

$43K/yr

Overview ASM Merchandise As the Assistant Manager of Merchandise, you will contribute to profitable ... Maintains high merchandise presentations standards, actively leads the team in planning and ...

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Assistant Merchandise Planning information

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How much do assistant merchandise planning jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant merchandise planning in the United States is $23.75, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a merchandising assistant do?

A merchandising assistant supports the planning and execution of product displays, inventory management, and sales strategies. They often work with data analysis, assist in stock replenishment, and coordinate with vendors and sales teams to ensure products are well-presented and available to meet customer demand.

Is merchandise planning a good career?

Merchandise planning is a viable career that involves analyzing sales data, inventory levels, and market trends to optimize product assortments and stock levels. It requires strong analytical skills, familiarity with planning tools, and the ability to work closely with buying and marketing teams. The role offers opportunities for advancement and can be found in retail, fashion, and consumer goods industries.

How much do assistant merchandisers make?

Assistant merchandisers typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the company. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals with skills in inventory management and data analysis can earn higher salaries.

What is an assistant merchandise planner?

An assistant merchandise planner supports the merchandise planning team by analyzing sales data, forecasting demand, and helping develop inventory strategies. They often use tools like Excel or specialized planning software and may assist with budget management and stock allocation to ensure product availability aligns with sales goals.

What is the difference between Assistant Merchandise Planning vs Assistant Buying?

AspectAssistant Merchandise PlanningAssistant Buying
Primary FocusDeveloping sales forecasts, inventory plans, and assortment strategiesSelecting and purchasing products to meet store or online demand
ResponsibilitiesAnalyzing sales data, managing stock levels, coordinating with vendorsNegotiating with suppliers, selecting products, placing orders
Skills & CredentialsAnalytical skills, understanding of inventory management, relevant certificationsNegotiation skills, product knowledge, vendor relations experience

Assistant Merchandise Planning and Assistant Buying roles are closely related within retail. While both support the product lifecycle, merchandise planning focuses on forecasting and inventory strategies, whereas buying emphasizes product selection and procurement. Understanding these differences helps candidates target the right roles based on their skills and career goals.

More about Assistant Merchandise Planning jobs
What cities are hiring for Assistant Merchandise Planning jobs? Cities with the most Assistant Merchandise Planning job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Merchandise Planning jobs? The most popular types of Merchandise Planning jobs are:
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What job categories do people searching Assistant Merchandise Planning jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Assistant Merchandise Planning jobs are:
Assistant Merchandise Planning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Merchandise Planning job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,400 per year, or $23.8 per hour.
Merchandise Planner, PINK Swim

Merchandise Planner, PINK Swim

Victoria's Secret

Reynoldsburg, OH • On-site

$86K - $117K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Victoria's Secret rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 398 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

47th of 104 rated fashion retailers

Job description

Your Role:
Merchandise Planner serves as the business manager for a book of business and is primarily responsible for translating the Merchants vision into viable plans and profitable results. The Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining sales, inventory and margin plans that tie to financial targets for an assigned Sub-Brand or Category. Plans will begin at the Sub-Brand or Category level and will drive to choice-level (Style/Color) plans, creating targeted assortments by cluster of stores with similar selling characteristics. In partnership with the Merchant, the Planner drives to additional value through optimizing the assortment for these store clusters. In collaboration with the Demand Forecaster, the Merchandise Planner generates demand plans, which incorporate statistically-based forecasts, merchandise plans and business knowledge. Demand plans provide the basis for future merchandise plans, as well as a forward-looking expectation of sales to inform the distribution process. The Merchandise Planner reports to the Manager, Merchandise Planning.
Your Impact:
Pre-Season
  • Build and refine a class/sub-class plan based on guidance from Category and Attribute plans created by Strategic Planning - the class/sub-brand plan is a weekly dollar and unit merchandise plan by class, sub-brand and potentially subclass
  • Partner with Merchants to create and maintain a seasonal theme-based assortment list and volume targets by store grouping (format, cluster, etc)
  • Develop assortment plans for sales, margin and inventory to the style/choice level by store groupings (cluster/format, etc) in support of productivity and financial targets
  • Use demand forecast, pattern after items, targets from attribute and category plans, test results and historical trends
  • Incorporate impact of events and entrance/exit strategies
  • Propose initial and promotional pricing by item Participate in consensus planning with demand planner; collaborate to drive to one number sales plan with recommendations for events, based on class plan and forecast
  • Communicate merchandise plans to other functional groups as follows:
    • Logistics for their review from a capacity standpoint. Information gained is then reconciled with the plan; issues reviewed and discussed together
    • Finance to inform their rolling business plan; together review and discuss any related issues
    • Stores to inform their labor estimates
    • Compliance to inform of possible categories for new product quality, testing and regulatory considerations
    • Customer Marketing to give strategic direction for the development/refinement of their seasonal campaign plans
  • Support the Sales & Operations Planning process by assisting in the preparation of materials for purposes of evaluating and resolving supply/demand imbalances
  • Identify test candidates that fit with merchandise strategy

In-Season
  • Analyze and reflect current trends in performance of strategy based on actual sales performance; revise in-season plans for sales and profitability, control inventory levels
  • Partner with Merchant to develop and propose tactics in response to current business trends
  • Manage and execute promotional and liquidation strategy
  • Manage the assortment to approved inventory targets
  • Communicate revisions both within the team and cross functionally
  • Work with Demand Forecaster to formulate alternate event options
  • Actively manage inventory levels pulling up, pushing back or cancelling orders; and by working with Inventory Deployment to recommend reorders

Reporting/Analytics
  • Analyze performance for area of responsibility relative to performance of plan and trend for both period and season sales, margin and inventory
  • Prepare recommendations and alternatives for key financial meetings/decisions in order to maximize sales and margin and optimize inventory productivity, in partnership with Merchant.
  • Perform trade-off analysis on impact of new items to the assortment identified at a sub-brand level and provide financial planning recommendations

Integration Points
  • Partner with Strategic Planning to inform, reconcile and revise financial targets based on the category and attribute plans
  • Participate in consensus planning with Demand Forecasters; collaborate to drive to one number plan and recommendations for event modeling
  • Partner with Inventory Deployment to establish and implement short- and long-term inventory management objectives and review order quantities
  • Work with cross-functional partners to make informed decisions on promotional events and season planning, exit strategies, new item launches and collections; provide recommendations in response to financial targets
  • Assist Merchandising, Logistics and Production to optimize flow of goods from suppliers to warehouses, distribution agents and fulfillment centers.
  • Work with demand forecasting to improve reliability through demand plan accuracy
  • Integrate with Space Planning to represent the opportunities and constraints that the physical environment creates at store level, monitor results from tests, launches and edits

Click here for benefit details related to this position.
Your Experience:
  • 5-7 years of retail planning, demand forecasting experience, inventory management, allocation, assortment planning, or replenishment experience, financial planning or financial analysis experience
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, operations, economics, business, statistics
  • Requires strong problem-solving and analytical skills; strong aptitude with numbers; retail math skills
  • Strong technical skills in Microsoft Excel or related planning, finance or analytical systems
  • Experienced in data management systems, like JDA Enterprise Software Enterprise Planning suite
  • Merchant or merchandising experience a plus
  • Positive business influence skills
  • Able to identify and influence critical stakeholders, proactively problem solve, and recommend solutions
  • Strong communication and presentation skills: concisely presents complex information and recommendations in terms meaningful to a variety of audiences
  • Demonstrated leadership capability and executive presence
  • Optimization Mindset - designs and develops models/plans to optimize decisions
  • Builds collaborative partnerships cross-functionally; identifies/influences critical stakeholders
  • Ability to articulate detailed action plans to successfully accomplish goal
  • Understands and executes against business strategy and goals
  • Makes decisions with limited information but also able to synthesize large quantities of data to drive business decisions
  • Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks/projects
  • The ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with various levels of management

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws. Please see links: California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Philadelphia Fair Chance Law, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance
An equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.

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