Lead Merchandising Planner
Harley-Davidson Motor CompanyAuto req ID: 60708 Title: Lead Merchandising Planner Job Function: Apparel Location: JUNEAU Workplace Category: Onsite Company: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Full or Part-Time: Full Time Shift: SHIFT1 In 1903, out of a small shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four young men lit a cultural wildfire that would grow and spread across geographies and generations. Their innovation and imagination for what was possible on two wheels sparked a transportation revolution that would make Harley-Davidson the most recognizable motorcycle brand in the world. Today, we continue to define motorcycle culture, evoking soul-stirring emotion reflected in every product and experience we deliver - like we have for well over a century and will for generations to come. Are you ready to ride with us? Harley-Davidson Motor Company, founded in a humble Milwaukee backyard shed in 1903, still calls the city home. Today, its Corporate Campus includes a 4.8-acre public park—a welcoming greenspace open to all. Join our team as a Lead Merchandising Planner. The Lead Merchandising Planner is a high-impact, strategic planning role responsible for driving category performance and enterprise planning discipline across Motor Clothes & Licensing. The role operates with a P&L mindset, translating long-range strategy into actionable category, financial, and inventory plans that drive sustainable growth, margin expansion, and inventory health. As a key integrator across Product, Commercial, and Operations, this role ensures alignment between strategy, demand, and execution. Key Responsibilities Enterprise & Long-Range Planning Support development of 3–5 year category and channel strategies aligned to enterprise and motorcycle growth objectives Translate strategic targets into category-level revenue, margin, and portfolio plans (SKU count, productivity, lifecycle) Ensure product portfolios are sized appropriately to meet financial targets Partner with Commercial teams to establish data-driven targets by region and category Lead top-down and bottom-up reconciliation process to ensure aligned, realistic growth targets Challenge assumptions to avoid under-targeting and ensure credible plans Portfolio & Lifecycle Management Define SKU productivity targets and assortment architecture Implement lifecycle management strategies (core vs seasonal, refresh cadence, exit criteria) Monitor performance (sales, margins, inventory, and sell-through) to drive real-time decisions on buys, cancellations, and reallocations Partner with Supply Chain to align inventory flow with demand signals Evaluate replenishment forecasts and strategy against MOQ constraints to ensure inventory turn targets Cross-Functional Leadership & Continuous Improvement Serve as a key integrator across Merchandising, Commercial, Finance, Design, and Supply Chain Drive alignment between product strategy, market demand and operational execution Lead collaborative planning sessions (MBR, Open to Buy, etc.) focused on clear decisions and accountability Promote P&L mindset and reinforce KPI driven performance management and planning discipline Drive continuous improvements of planning processes, tools and reporting Qualifications & Experience This position typically requires a minumum of 8 years of related experience. In addition, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the following: Proven experience in category or portfolio planning, including SKU productivity and assortment management Experience supporting long-range and annual planning processes, translating strategy into actionable financial and inventory plans Strong understanding of retail P&L drivers, with the ability to connect planning decisions (Buys, pricing, SKU count) into measurable financial outcomes (revenue, margin, inventory productivity) Advanced analytical capability, including Excel and BI/reporting tools with the ability to synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable insights Demonstrated ability to operate cross-functionally and in…