Merchandise Planning Solutions Consultant We are seeking a highly experienced Merchandise Planning Solutions Consultant to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP), Open-to-Buy (OTB), Sales Planning, Forecasting, and Assortment Planning solutions. This individual will serve as a strategic advisor to business and technology leaders, helping translate complex retail planning processes into scalable technology solutions. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in retail planning operations across eCommerce, Retail, and Wholesale channels and has hands-on experience implementing commercial planning platforms such as o9, Anaplan, Blue Yonder, Centric, or related solutions. This role will play a critical part in shaping and supporting the organization's next-generation planning capabilities, including the development of an internal Merchandise Financial Planning platform. This is a highly consultative role requiring the ability to engage executive stakeholders, challenge assumptions, facilitate decision-making, and bridge the gap between business strategy and technical execution.
Required Experience:
5-8 years of experience in Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP), Open-to-Buy (OTB), Assortment Planning, Sales Planning, Forecasting, Retail Planning, or Planning Technology Solutions.
Hands-on experience implementing or enhancing planning platforms such as o9, Anaplan, Blue Yonder, Centric, or similar enterprise planning solutions.
Strong understanding of end-to-end retail planning processes, including MFP, OTB, assortment planning, demand forecasting, inventory planning, and seasonal planning.
Experience supporting planning functions across Retail, eCommerce/DTC, and Wholesale channels.
Proven ability to translate business requirements into scalable functional and technical solutions.
Experience leading stakeholder workshops, requirements gathering sessions, and solution design discussions.
Ability to influence and partner with senior business leaders while navigating complex and often opinionated stakeholder groups.
Experience working independently in consulting, transformation, product, or enterprise technology environments.
Required Skills:- Deep expertise in retail merchandise planning and forecasting processes.
- Strong knowledge of MFP, OTB, sales planning, assortment planning, and inventory management.
- Ability to bridge the gap between business strategy and technical solution design.
- Expertise evaluating, implementing, or optimizing retail planning technologies.
- Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to think strategically while also diving into detailed business and technical requirements.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation capabilities.
- Comfortable challenging assumptions, driving accountability, and recommending innovative solutions.
- Nice to Have Skills & Experience:
- Experience working with global planning organizations and cross-functional teams.
- Exposure to AI, machine learning, or advanced forecasting capabilities within retail planning solutions.
- Prior consulting experience leading workshops, providing recommendations, and influencing executive stakeholders.
- Experience supporting long-range planning horizons, including seasonal, annual, and multi-year merchandise planning strategies.
What Success Looks Like:
Acts as the bridge between business planning teams and technology teams.
Brings deep expertise in retail planning processes and best practices.
Influences senior stakeholders and drives alignment across complex initiatives.
Helps modernize planning capabilities through both packaged solutions (o9, Anaplan, etc.) and custom-built platforms.
Operates independently while providing strategic guidance and hands-on execution.
