[Hiring] Merchandise Planner @PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc.

Role Description

The Merchandise Planner plays a strategic role in driving sales, optimizing inventory, and enhancing customer satisfaction through data-driven planning and forecasting. This role requires a deep understanding of niche markets, seasonal trends, and customer preferences to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place.

Key Responsibilities

• Planning & Forecasting
  • Develop and maintain merchandise financial plans by category, season, and store/channel.
  • Forecast sales, margin, and inventory targets based on historical data and market trends.
  • Collaborate with buying teams to build assortments that align with brand strategy and customer demand.
• Inventory & Allocation
  • Monitor inventory levels and recommend replenishment strategies to minimize stockouts and overstocks.
  • Partner with allocation teams to ensure optimal product distribution across stores and channels.
  • Identify slow-moving items and propose markdowns, promotions, or reallocation strategies.
• Financial Analysis
  • Analyze performance metrics including sell-through, turn, margin, and ROI.
  • Prepare weekly/monthly business reviews and present insights to cross-functional teams.
  • Support pricing and promotional strategies to maximize profitability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams.
  • Provide planning input for product launches, seasonal campaigns, and store openings.
  • Communicate inventory risks and opportunities to leadership.

Qualifications

• Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to interpret data and forecast trends.
• Retail Acumen: Deep understanding of specialty retail dynamics and customer behavior.
• Communication: Clear and collaborative communication across departments.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced Excel skills; experience with planning tools (e.g., JDA, SAP, Oracle).
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to balance short-term needs with long-term business goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, preferably in specialty retail.
• Experience with omnichannel retail and inventory optimization tools is a plus.

Company Description

Petco is proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.