Assistant Planner

About Grocery Outlet:

Our Mission: Touching lives for the better

Our Vision: Touching lives by being the first choice for bargain-minded consumers in the U.S.

Our Values & Behaviors: Achievement, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Family, Fun, Integrity & Service

About The Team:

Our Planning team’s mission is to constantly push the status quo to deliver the best service to our buying team and store operators. Our team is highly intelligent and engaged with the business- allowing us to operate in a fast-paced environment and form cross-functional partnerships. Successful members of our team maximize profitability and productivity within their department and motivate their team and cross functional partners with their energy.

About The Role:

You will be responsible for managing the distribution of merchandise to support company plan.  Extremely “hands-on”, you will need to be able to make quick decisions, manage key warehouse and planning relationships and provide inventory information for your assigned departments. You will be responsible for assisting the Planning Team in ensuring proper product inventories at all stores to facilitate optimum code life, minimize seasonal markdowns and maximize turns.  You will recommend and execute changes as needed to ensure profitability and productivity.  You will also maximize sales potential by performing the following duties: The Assistant Planner will report to the Sr. Inventory Planner.

Responsibilities Include:

• Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products to stores to maximize store turns and profitability


• Implement the company’s "Treasure Hunt" philosophy and merchandise assortment strategy through effective execution of product allocation to stores


• Analyze store level data to identify chain/region/store level trends and recommend/implement changes and action as appropriate


• Execute category/sub-class trends regionally and identify specific merchandise needs through knowledge of regional and climatic characteristics


• Execute seasonal distributions in accordance with direction provided by planning & purchasing teams


• Responsible for managing those items approaching expiration in the warehouse


• Responsible for managing items on the Aged report (slower moving items – identify and collaborate with planner, action as appropriate)


• Responsible for building, in partnership with set crew, an appropriate inventory mix to support new store openings


• Manage store distribution groups based on location, volume, size, demographics and sales trends


• Own cross-functional communication regarding product sales, inventory position, and distributions for all stores


• Build, develop, and maintain effective and productive working relationships within cross-functional team (District Sales Managers, Planning Department, Purchasing Department, Stores, Distribution Center, etc.)


• Participate in cross-functional meetings, contributing on distribution strategies


• Review MTO items in-stock position with planners/buyers – weekly


• Demonstrate logical analysis and problem-solving skills through organization and prioritization


• Demonstrate superior listening, written, and oral communication skills


• Present analytics and reports to various levels of management


• Assists buyers with updates on potential inventory or code date issues on all products


• Execute profitable entrance and exit strategies as determined by planning, with merchandising for new, seasonal and replacement programs


• Visit stores and warehouses as necessary


• Perform other duties as assigned

About the Pay:

• Base Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000 Annually


• 401(k) Profit Sharing


• Medical, Dental, Vision & More!


• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills and may vary based on location

About You:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills


• Can successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously


• Can make solid decisions quickly based on limited information


• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form


• Intermediate experience with Excel preferred


• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team


• Concern for achieving positive outcomes and growing the business; willing to get involved in all aspects of the process


• Ability to be creative, resourceful and take ownership over your categories

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