Merchandise Planner Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary

The Director, Sales Planning - Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) leads the forecasting and strategic planning across Ecommerce and Stores collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to drive long-term growth. Directs the sales-to-stock analysis for channels, and categories, collaborating with DTC stakeholders to develop tools and plans optimal business planning.

This pivotal role drives excellence in sales planning and sales operations across the organization, supporting strong integration with US and DTC leadership, Merchants, Demand Planning, Customer Service, and Finance teams. The Director oversees comprehensive sales, productivity and inventory reporting and analysis, delivering executive-level metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for DTC in the US. This role drives market health in sales to stock, ST in market with proactive analysis of the business, category and key product franchises.

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without cause.

Essential Functions

Description

• Leads and develops a planning organization, establishing talent strategy, capability building, and performance standards to drive brand and commercial outcomes.
• Owns the Open to Buy process (Sales, Inventory, ASP) for DTC in the US Marketplace.
• Owns the plan and forecast critical KPIs for DTC (Traffic, conversion, UPT, ASP)
• Owns the DTC forecasting and analytics function, partnering with demand planning and finance to align forecasts with financial targets and operational plans.
• Deliver insights for analysis at the weekly, monthly, quarter and seasonal cadences at the category, product and key-item levels to better understand and share out what is driving results for DTC.
• Defines and directs ladder planning for categories and product franchises enabling long-term growth and inventory optimization.
• Work collaboratively with core leaders to deliver focus and efficiency to DTC operating model, added focus in planning processes and business management.
• Leads DTC target setting process throughout the integrated go-to-market (GTM) process.
• Directs sell-through analysis and reporting, creating sophisticated dashboards in PowerBI, facilitating information sharing and insights for action with key stakeholders.
• Defines KPI checks and balances, reporting systems, and execution strategies to support immediate business opportunities and revenue generation across DTC.
• Leads overall inventory management, including management of bulks for DTC.
• Communicate business performance to key stakeholders, identifying risks and opportunities with actionable recommendations to improve performance.
• Defines KPI checks and balances, reporting systems, and execution strategies to support immediate business opportunities and revenue generation across DTC.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree with a focus in Business, Merchandising, Economics, Finance, or related field required.
• Minimum eight (8) years experience in merchandise planning/buying for Wholesale or DTC.
• Minimum three (3) years of people leadership experience.
• Experience in Ecommerce within the footwear industry is preferred. 

Any equivalent combination of experience and education which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute on a year for year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business decisions.
• Strong business acumen across Wholesale, Retail, and DTC channels, including understanding of sales, inventory, and financial drivers.
• Expertise in sales planning and forecasting processes, including sales-to-stock, OTB, and inventory management principles.
• Ability to lead cross-functional planning and drive alignment across sales, finance, and demand planning teams.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to present insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with internal leaders and key external partners.
• Ability to influence decision-making at multiple levels without direct authority.
• Experience designing and optimizing processes, tools, and KPI frameworks to improve business performance.

Travel - Yes, up to 10% of the time.

Base Salary: $175,000 - $185,000 yearly

The salary range posted for this position represents the anticipated hiring range for this role. Offers are made within this range based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, education, internal equity, and market considerations. This is the hiring range for the position; compensation above the posted maximum is not typically available at the time of hire.

Work Location: Hybrid

This role is based in the Portland, OR area and follows a hybrid work model. Employees are expected to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of our Portland office and generally work on-site four days per week, with flexibility based on business and team needs.

Why Work at KEEN:  Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that's on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.  

At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.

Fuerst Group, KEEN, and Chrome are equal opportunity employers.  We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.