Planning Manager, Merchandise

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Planning Manager, Merchandise

Department Code & Name: Retail / Merchandising & Ecommerce

Reports To:  Director of Planning, Merchandising

FLSA Status: Exempt

Direct Reports: 0

Location: Remote (U.S.-based) with occasional travel for site visits and business-related events

About LOVB (League One Volleyball):

League One Volleyball (LOVB) is reimagining women's sports. Launched in 2019, our company is a mission-led sports performance, training and media enterprise that will change the game of volleyball in the USA and empower new generations of female athletes.

 It is a groundbreaking time for volleyball in the US with our historic triple Olympic Gold medals in Women's Indoor, Beach and Sitting Volleyball. Volleyball is already the #1 most played girls'  youth sport. There are 38M current and former players today. Of major sports, it's the only one that is women-first (~90% of players are female). But the volleyball market has been almost entirely missed by traditional sports investors, brands, and media. 

LOVB is capturing this opportunity by creating a strong club business, and from that built-in audience and fandom, is creating the best Pro League in the world and a digital ecosystem that will  connect all aspects of LOVB. This community-up approach will drive participation and fandom, while enabling greater empowerment for girls and young women living this amazing sport. In  this role, you will join a mission-driven, roll-up-your-sleeves team of innovators and builders who have come together to change the paradigm of professional volleyball and women’s sports.

Job Summary:

The Planning Manager is responsible for owning day-to-day planning operations, driving forecasting accuracy, and executing inventory and in-season purchasing strategies. This role bridges strategic direction from the Director of Planning with operational execution, ensuring alignment across merchandising, finance, and supply chain teams. The Planning Manager also oversees data integrity and supports process improvements to enable scalable growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial & Inventory Planning

Support the Director of Planning in delivering financial targets, including revenue, margin, and inventory goals

Translate high-level financial goals into actionable plans and forecasts

Open-to-Buy (OTB) Planning 

Own the development, management, and execution of OTB plans

Ensure alignment with financial targets and inventory strategies

Partner with cross-functional teams to adjust OTB based on business trends

Forecasting & Demand Planning 

Own forecasting processes, including demand, sales, and inventory projections

Continuously refine forecasts using historical data, trends, and market insights

Partner with the Director to validate assumptions and outputs

Own execution of in-season re-forecasting, reallocation, and promotional adjustments

Monitor performance and react quickly to trading trends

Support decision-making with data-driven insights

Reporting & Analytics 

Own reporting frameworks and deliver insights to inform decision-making

Ensure timely, accurate, and actionable reporting across the business

Identify risks and opportunities through data analysis

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

Partner with merchandising, finance, supply chain, and operations teams at a working level

Ensure alignment and execution of plans across functions

Act as a key point of contact for planning-related initiatives

Process & Systems  

Build, refine, and execute planning processes and tools

Identify opportunities for efficiency and scalability

Ensure documentation and adherence to best practices across the team

Qualifications:

5-8+ years of experience in planning, merchandising, or analytics

Strong analytical and financial acumen

Attention to detail and process orientation

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Strong communication and influencing skills

Advanced proficiency in Excel and planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar)

Why You’ll Love Working at LOVB:

Be part of a ground-floor professional sports league

Direct impact on how fans experience LOVB and connect with teams

Opportunity to grow with the retail business as it scales

Collaborative, energetic, and mission-driven culture

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

Ability to operate a computer and use a keyboard, mouse, and video conferencing tools for extended periods.

Ability to clearly communicate via video, phone, email, and written channels.

Ability to work effectively in a remote environment.

Occasional travel may be required for site visits, team launches, or business-related events.