Merchandise Planner, Amazon and Strategic Partnerships

Overview

About PHOENIX 

 

PHOENIX Retail, LLC is a retail platform operating the Express and Bonobos brands worldwide. Express is a multichannel apparel brand dedicated to a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style whether dressing for work, everyday or special occasions. Bonobos is a menswear brand known for being pioneers of exceptional fit and a personalized, innovative retail model. Customers can experience our brands in over 400 Express retail and Express Factory Outlet stores, 50 Bonobos Guideshops, and online at www.express.com and www.bonobos.com.

 

About Express

 

Express is a multichannel apparel brand dedicated to creating confidence and inspiring self-expression. Since its launch in 1980, the brand has embraced a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style. Whether dressing for work, everyday or special occasions, Express ensures you look and feel your best, wherever life takes you.

 

The Company operates over 400 retail and outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the express.com online store and the Express mobile app.

Responsibilities

The Planner Strategic Partnerships is a key business driver for Express’ Amazon brand store and domestic & international licensing. This role is responsible for building financial and inventory strategies, executing seasonal and in-season plans, and ensuring optimal inventory productivity across accounts, and building, managing, and analyzing the Amazon P&L. The Planner partners cross-functionally to influence buying decisions, manage open-to-buy, lead replenishment strategies, and identify opportunities that drive sales and profitability.

 

This role requires exceptional Microsoft Excel skills in addition to advanced analytical skills, financial acumen, and the ability to synthesize insights into actionable strategies. The Planner serves as a trusted advisor to leadership, bringing forward recommendations that balance risk and opportunity while enabling growth in new and evolving partnerships.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain financial, sales, and inventory plans at the class/SKU level to achieve sales, margin, and turn goals for Amazon and other strategic accounts.
• Build and maintain detailed Amazon P&L.
• Lead the open-to-buy process, partnering with Finance and Merchandising to manage investments and forecast risks/opportunities.
• Provide pre-season assortment, choice count, and flow recommendations aligned with partnership strategies and consumer demand.
• Forecast demand leveraging historical sales, marketing inputs, trend analysis, and external partner insights.
• Drive in-season performance management through replenishment, allocation, and rebalancing decisions to maximize sales and profitability.
• Conduct SKU rationalization and assortment optimization analysis; make recommendations to improve product productivity.
• Partner with Merchandising to align Amazon-specific buys and flow strategies.
• Deliver reporting and analytics for weekly/monthly/quarterly business reviews; highlight drivers, risks, and opportunities.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and scalability of partnership planning.
• Act as a cross-functional liaison, influencing decisions across Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, Finance, and external partners.
• May mentor or provide functional guidance to Assistant of Strategic Partnerships.

 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Planning & Allocation, or related field.
• 3–5 years of merchandise planning, allocation, or finance (e-commerce or partnership channel experience preferred).
• Demonstrated success in building and reconciling sales and inventory plans.
• Strong financial acumen and retail math expertise; proven ability to analyze complex data sets and derive insights.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and planning/reporting systems.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to influence cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Experience with Amazon Seller Central or other marketplace/e-commerce platforms a plus.

 

CRITICAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Analytical Leader: Synthesizes data into strategies that drive decisions.
• Influential Partner: Builds trust and alignment across cross-functional stakeholders.
• Solution-Oriented: Anticipates challenges, identifies opportu