Director, Planner - Backstage

Be part of an amazing story.

 

Macy’s is more than just a store. We’re a story. One that’s captured the hearts and minds of America for more than 160 years. A story about innovations and traditions…about inspiring stores and irresistible products…about the excitement of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, and the wonder of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ve been part of memorable moments and milestones for countless customers and colleagues. Those stories are part of what makes this such a special place to work.

 

Job Overview

 

As the Director Planner for Macy’s Backstage, you will lead the end-to-end financial planning, inventory management, and strategic vision for a key category within our off-price business. Success in this role hinges on a strong, collaborative partnership with your buyer to shape and execute a compelling category strategy. You’ll combine sharp financial acumen with a deep understanding of the customer, leveraging data and cross-functional tools to drive results. This is a dynamic, high-impact role that offers the opportunity to influence the future of Backstage while mentoring a high-performing team and championing innovation across the business.

 

What You Will Do

 

• Own and lead the full financial planning function for your category, including pre-season and in-season planning across all key metrics: sales, receipts, flow, gross margin, discounts, markups, and inventory.
• Collaborate closely with your buyer to co-create and deliver a clear, data-driven strategic vision for the category that balances financial goals with customer relevance.
• Develop detailed pre-season plans down to the master class level and manage weekly open-to-buys at the department and class level.
• Deliver accurate in-season forecasting, adjusting to shifts in consumer demand and macro conditions to optimize results.
• Strategically manage inventory to ensure optimal in-store presentation and sales performance by category and door.
• Lead a team responsible for inventory allocation by style to stores, ensuring door-level execution supports overall financial plans.
• Uncover and act on opportunities to exceed plan targets through strategic inventory, pricing, and flow decisions.
• Drive strategic packaway planning, integrating it seamlessly into pre-season, in-season, and allocation strategies to maximize seasonal relevance and value recovery.
• Operate fluently in Anaplan and other key allocation tools (e.g., A3, PGUs) to drive planning efficiency and execution accuracy.
• Build and develop a high-performing team, fostering engagement, growth, and readiness for the next level.
• Develop seasonal strategy documents in collaboration with your Buying counterparts that incorporate your category knowledge, competitive intelligence, consumer trends, Macy’s main box performance, and market share opportunities.
• Champion a culture of hospitality, curiosity, and strategic foresight — anticipating what’s next for your category and acting on it with agility and innovation.

 

 

Skills You Will Need

 

Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for effectively conveying financial targets, strategies, and performance insights to stakeholders.

 

Analytical Skills and Business Acumen: Strong analytical abilities and a deep understanding of business operations are necessary for interpreting financial data, identifying trends, and making informed decisions.

 

Detail-Oriented and Results-Driven: Attention to detail is crucial for accurately analyzing financial information and ensuring strategic plans align with organizational goals.

 

Collaboration and Influence: Ability to collaborate effectively with DMMs, cross-functional teams, and senior management, leveraging negotiation skills and influencing techniques to drive consensus and action.

 

Problem-Solving: Demonstrated track record of employing effective problem-solving approaches and collaborating with diverse teams to address challenges and achieve objectives.

 

Forecasting Analysis and Inventory Optimization: Proficiency in forecasting analysis and inventory optimization techniques is necessary to ensure efficient inventory management and meet financial targets.

 

ROF/OTB Management: Experience in managing Rolling Operating Forecas