Merchandise Planning Analyst

Job description

Merchandise Planning Analyst - Brilliant Earth

Role Overview:

The Merchandise Planning Analyst will play a pivotal role within Brilliant Earth’s Retail Merchandise Planning team, responsible for curating and managing inventory strategies and analysis across our showroom network. This position requires a strategic approach to product productivity, showroom tiering, and inventory management to ensure each location’s merchandise mix optimally represents our brand while maximizing sales performance and inventory investment. This role will serve as the critical link between our merchandising, merchandise planning, VM, and retail operations teams. The ideal person for this role thrives in fast-paced retail environments and has demonstrated an ability to drive meaningful business impact through data-driven space planning, cross-team collaboration, and consistent process improvements. We have a social and environmental mission at the core of our company and are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about helping us achieve our social goals, as well as our business goals.

Key responsibilities include:

• Analyze planogram performance across key metrics including inventory turns, backstock investment, showroom tiering performance, and out-of-stock rates to identify optimization opportunities
• Generate actionable insights and recommendations based on KPI analysis to drive strategic decisions on space allocation and inventory investments
• Build financial targets by channel and showroom, incorporating inventory investment initiatives, seasonal merchandising strategies, and new product launch expectations into financial projections
• Execute A/B testing and control group analysis to measure incremental sales lift, conversion metrics, and operational efficiency gains from planogram modifications
• Analyze product performance data to identify opportunities for assortment optimization across locations
• Recommend strategic product additions and removals based on sales performance, customer feedback, and emerging trends
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive showroom tiering system that classifies locations based on sales volume, market opportunity, showroom size, and demographic factors
• Define clear assortment standards for each showroom tier including product category representation, price point distribution, and display sample quantities
• Present tier performance analysis and recommendations to leadership team on a regular basis
• Coordinate with merchandise planning team on showroom stock requirements, replenishment cycles, and inventory allocation priorities
• Work with retail operations to gather field feedback on product performance and customer requests
• Oversee showroom sample inventory budget and maintain spend within established financial targets
• Build and maintain comprehensive showroom reporting dashboards tracking key performance metrics by location, tier, and product category
• Support team in product selection and assortment planning for new showroom openings as point person

Specific Qualifications include:

• BA degree or equivalent, preferred · 3+ years’ experience in allocation, store planning, and/or inventory planning; preferably in a retail environment
• Highly attentive to details
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced Excel skills including complex formulas, pivot tables, and efficient management of large datasets for inventory and sales analysis
• Highly organized with focus on execution, problem solving, and improving processes
• Exceptional time management skills and accountability
• Ability to think critically and adapt quickly in a flexible environment
• Team player with an ability to work collaboratively
• Entrepreneurial spirit / self-starter
• Interest in socially and environmentally responsible organizations and products
• Experience with Planning and Reporting software; experience with Domo, or similar, a plus

What We Offer:

• Career Growth. We want to see you sparkle! Through regular 1-1’s with your manager, a variety of training opportunities, and an annual 360 review process for all employees, our leaders are dedicated to creating clear pathways for growth. Ask the hiring team for more information on how Brilliant Earth creates a culture of collaboration and growth during your interview conversations!
• Diverse, mission-minded team. We were founded to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, & inclusive jewelry industry. Learn more about our impact and team diversity Here!
• Lifestyle Spending Account. At Brilliant Earth, we’re committed to your well-being. Enjoy company reimbursements for eligible wellness expenses, such as gym memberships, massage, counseling, and more!
• Continued Education. Company-sponsored learning in leadership, professional skills, diversity & inclusion, and access to tuition reimbursement for role-specific trainings.
• Employee Discounts. As an employee at Brilliant Earth, you’ll receive a generous discount on our jewelry.
• Mental Wellness Perks. We offer access to mental health resources, such as self-care apps and seminars. Our Employee Assistance program offers ²⁴⁄₇ access to counseling!
• Giving Back and Volunteer Opportunities. In addition to our giving back programs, our teams support local initiatives and spend time together by volunteering.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision. We offer multiple plans to choose from, including a $0 monthly premium option for employee health insurance and employer HSA contributions. Insurance kicks in on the first day of your 2nd month!
• 401k match. We know that saving for the future is important. That’s why we offer a generous 401k match.
• Paid Time Off. We know it’s important to recharge and relax
• Parental Leave. We aim to support our growing families. Employees can utilize our paid parental leave to bond and care for their new additions.
• Disability and Life insurance. 100% employer-paid.
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits.

More About Us:

At Brilliant Earth, our mission is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, & inclusive jewelry industry. We believe in creating jewelry you can feel good about wearing, without ever compromising between quality and conscience. We are hard-working team players that welcome challenges and rise to any occasion. Our community of collaboration, respect and encouragement is fostered by frequent team events, cross-departmental meetings and celebrating our wins, big and small. As one of the fastest growing e-commerce jewelers in the world, we’re searching for bright and passionate people who are excited to make an impact from day one and grow with the company to take on greater responsibility over time.

Brilliant Earth recognizes the value of diversity and inclusion on our team, as we work together to reinvent fine jewelry in a thoughtful and modern way. At Brilliant Earth, we celebrate each other – our successes, the lessons along the way, and the unique perspectives each individual brings to our team. It is our intent to maintain a work environment and hiring process which is free of harassment or discrimination because of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, veteran status, or any other status protected by Federal, State or local laws. We are committed to complying with all Federal, State and local laws providing Equal Employment Opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations.

If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation completing an application or at any stage of the interview process, please reach out to us at [email protected].