Account Planning Manager, Childrenswear

POSITION OVERVIEW
Partner with regional merchandising, sales, and external retail teams to develop, forecast, and deliver balanced, lifestyle-appropriate assortments for assigned retail partners. Support volume and margin growth while reflecting the seasonal RL merchandising vision for the Childrenswear business.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Areas of Focus
Collaborate with regional merchandising, sales, and retail buying teams to identify product strategies and opportunities. Develop assortment plans across all product divisions and categories that support the brand’s financial strategy and deliver mutually beneficial, profitable results.
Partner with the Account Executive and Buyer to ensure seasonal assortment plans meet each account’s business objectives and needs.
Analyze historical and in-season sales to inform future seasonal plans.
Support the Account Planning process by developing and delivering detailed strategic plans.
Strategic Financial & Assortment Planning Process

Collaborate with Sales and retail accounts to prepare financial class plans, product flow plans, and door/cluster targets.
Build assortments and use financial metrics to validate that product placements meet financial goals.
Provide comprehensive plan recaps.
Analysis and Forecasting Process

Analyze weekly account performance across Fashion, Seasonal Core, and Core Replenishment Product:
Identify best- and worst-performing
Share key insights with the Account Executive, Buying, and Merchandising teams.
Identify and act on current and future opportunities across all product lines.
Report on sell-through, product margin, bookings, and class penetration during the season and before and after market.
Review account sales performance weekly with the Account Executive.
Partner with teams to conduct store visits and gain deeper insight into retail performance.
Support ad hoc projects that require a thorough understanding of the product life cycle.
Create and maintain tools for market preparation and sales meetings.
Validate and monitor account size scales, flagging adjustments needed to optimize assortment sizing and drive sales.
Reporting Process

Prepare account recaps highlighting key insights and metrics to support account communication and drive the business.
Account Management and Communication

Build strong working relationships with each Account Executive and the account’s management team.
Maintain proactive communication and close collaboration across all levels of account management to support plan achievement.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
3–5 years of related experience in assortment planning, merchandise planning, or account planning, with a focus on retail analysis and a keen eye for product.
Highly motivated self-starter with strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Strong analytical and computer skills, with close attention to detail and accuracy. Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP, required.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement tools and processes that improve efficiency.
Proficiency in retail math.
Childrenswear experience preferred but not required.