MERCHANDISE PLANNING MANAGER Z SUPPLY is an established California Women’s lifestyle apparel brand that is leading the space for casual, comfortable style. Located in the heart of Orange County, we are passionate about staying true to our roots and living a life of good vibes in and out of the office. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Merchandise Planning Manager to join our Planning team. Position Title: MERCHANDISE PLANNING MANAGER Position Type: Full Time / Salary Exempt Reporting To: Director of Buying & Planning Location: Z SUPPLY – Costa Mesa, CA Work Type: Hybrid In Office 3-4 Days / Remote 1-2 Days Job Overview The Merchandise Planning Manager is responsible for leading the pre-season and in-season merchandise planning strategy across multiple categories within the Z SUPPLY brand umbrella. This role ensures sales, margin, and inventory objectives are met by partnering closely with cross-functional teams including Buying, Merchandising, Finance, Design, Production, and Ecommerce. The Merchandise Planning Manager plays a key role in managing OTB (open-to-buy), analyzing selling trends, and optimizing inventory flow throughout the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, detail-oriented, and possess strong strategic planning skills to help drive profitable growth and operational excellence. A strong aesthetic eye and genuine passion for apparel and product are essential in this role. The right candidate will not only understand the numbers but also appreciate how product, brand, and consumer experience align—bringing both analytical and creative thinking to the planning process. Position Duties / Responsibilities • Lead the development, execution, and management of merchandise financial plans and forecasts for multiple categories and sales channels • Build and maintain weekly/monthly/seasonal reporting, KPI dashboards, and hindsight recaps to identify risks and opportunities • Manage pre-season and in-season OTB plans; partner with Buying team on assortment planning and purchase strategies • Drive in-season inventory re-forecasting, recommending chase or other actions as needed to optimize sales and margin • Collaborate with Ecommerce and Wholesale teams on inventory flow, reallocation, and replenishment strategies to maximize sell-through • Partner with Design and Merchandising teams to influence future assortments based on data-driven insights • Present key topline performance recaps and action plans to senior management regularly • Assist in seasonal budget planning and financial goal setting • Performs other related duties as assigned by management Qualifications / Experience / Skills / Competencies • 6+ years of relevant planning or merchandising experience in the apparel industry (multichannel experience strongly preferred, women’s experience strongly preffered) • Proven ability to develop and manage financial plans, OTB, and inventory forecasts • Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capabilities (pivot tables, v-lookups, IF formulas, etc.) • Expert knowledge of women’s fashion trends, brand & the competitive market • Experience with Full Circle ERP and Shopify Plus preferred • Strong understanding of retail math, profitability metrics, and inventory KPIs • Strategic thinker with ability to translate data into actionable insights • Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to influence cross-functionally • Highly organized with a strong attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines • Self-starter with a collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIORNMENT • Occasionally to frequently required to sit, stand, walk, • Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity. • Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl. • Continually required to talk or hear. • While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate • The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 20 pounds • Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception and ability to adjust focus Z SUPPLY PERKS At Z SUPPLY, Departments Work Cross-functionally Enabling Everyone To Further Their Knowledge And Expertise In An Inclusive, Supportive Environment That Is Committed To Healthy Work/life Balance, Peer Mentorship, And Community Outreach. In Addition To a Collaborative And Supportive Culture, Here Are a Few Additional Perks That Are Enjoyed By The Z SUPPLY Team • Half-Day Fridays year-round • Generous clothing discount • New chic and modern offices located near top restaurants and shopping in Costa Mesa, CA • Comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage • 401K with discretionary employer match of up to $2500 • Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Paid Preventative Health Care Time Off, Paid Birthdays and various other company perks and benefits. • Paid Maternity & Paternity leave following 1-2 years of service • Collaborative, cohesive team environment focused on a thriving, progressive, inclusive & dynamic company culture ANNUAL SALARY RANGE $120,00 - 150,000 At Z SUPPLY, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. EEO STATEMENT Z SUPPLY is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please email Careers@zsupplyllc.com . Want to join our growing team? Apply today. We hope we get the chance to work with you!