Associate Merchandise Planner

Overview

The Associate Merchandise Planner owns inventory planning for an assigned set of categories and brands, driving in-stocks, healthy inventory, and sales and margin across stores and channels. This role manages replenishment, forecasting, and open-to-buy (OTB) for its portfolio, and partners closely with Merchandising, Private Brand, & Commercialization to execute launches, promotions, and inventory actions.

The ideal candidate is analytical, proactive, and detail oriented. They turn data into clear recommendations, communicate confidently with vendors and leadership, and are ready to grow into a Planner role.

Responsibilities

Replenishment & Forecasting

• Own replenishment for assigned categories and brands; review and release orders and allocations daily
• Build and adjust forecasts based on sales trends, promotions, newness, and channel performance.
• Maintain vendor forecast files for key partners and process ad hoc orders as needed.

Open-to-Buy & Inventory Health

• Manage monthly OTB including receipt plans, in-season shifts, and weekly OTB vs. forecast tracking.
• Monitor in-stocks, weeks of supply, turns, and aging inventory; build action plans with Merchandising partners for overstocked, underperforming, and discontinued items.
• Manage open POs: adjust quantities, update ETAs, close orders, and drive vendor OTIF and past-due follow-up.

Launches, Promotions & Private Brand

• Plan inventory for new item launches, category refreshes, and promo events
• Ensure accurate new item setup in RELEX and maintain newness trackers and buy sheets.
• Support Private Brand launches, replenishment, and manage supply risk with co-manufacturers.

Reporting & Analysis

• Own key recurring reports, including OTB files, store in-stock reports, ladder plans, and promo performance reports.
• Prepare category performance reviews and translate analysis into clear risks, opportunities, and actions for leadership.

Cross-Functional, Vendor & Field Partnership

• Represent Planning in vendor, commercialization, and internal meetings with updates on inventory, orders, and timelines.
• Respond to store and field inventory questions

Systems & Process Improvement

• Managing tasks in Relex such as exceptions and forecast review, allocations, and orders.
• Identify and drive process improvements that reduce manual work and improve planning accuracy.

Other Functions:

•  Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Math, Supply Chain or related discipline or, equivalent combination of intellectual instruction and work experience

Required Knowledge:                     

• Working knowledge of OTB, forecasting, and inventory KPIs (in-stock, WOS, turns, OTIF).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with RELEX or a similar planning system strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to own priorities, make decisions, and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Experience Required:

• 3-5 years of inventory planning, replenishment, or merchandise planning experience in retail or e-commerce.

Skill and Ability:

• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to structure analysis independently and identify root causes for issues
• Ability to multi-task with extreme attention to detail while working on multiple projects
• Ability to work independently
• Strong time management skills
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Intuitive in nature; ability to anticipate what is coming next
• Highly organized
• Team player
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment 

Equal Opportunity Policy

The Vitamin Shoppe is an equal opportunity employer. We respect diversity and accordingly are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.  Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, separation, recruitment, pay and other forms of compensation, access to facilities and programs, training and general treatment during employment.

We firmly believe that every Health Enthusiast has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is to maintain a satisfied and productive team of Health Enthusiasts. The keys to reaching that goal are effective leadership, equal application of fair human resources policies, competitive wages and benefits, and close attention to all health enthusiast matters. The Vitamin Shoppe is committed to the principle of fair and impartial treatment of our Health Enthusiasts.

Health Enthusiasts with questions or concerns about equal employment opportunities in the workplace are encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of their Human Resources representative.  We will not allow any form of retaliation against Health Enthusiasts who raise issues of perceived discrimination in good faith.  To ensure our workplace is free of artificial barriers, violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.