Festival Merchandise Planning Manager

This is a Full Time Job

THE JOB

The Merchandise Planning Manager reports to the Director of Merchandise and is responsible for owning and executing the financial targets for the festival merchandise programs. This role drives product mix, planning, and buying strategies to improve product quality, operational efficiency, and overall profitability.

WHAT THIS ROLE WILL DO

Merchandise Planning and Financial Management
• Analyze historical sales data, leverage ticket sales trends, and use market insights to set revenue targets and inventory strategy for each festival
• Partner with the Director of Merchandise to align on financial goals by building and managing detailed merchandise budgets, forecasts, and open-to-buy plans
• Manage purchasing process by allocating inventory across channels, creating and processing purchase orders for each assortment/program
• Develop analytical and data-driven financial models to track sales performance and refine projections and forecasts
• Own post-event financial recaps, including SKU-level sales analysis, margin performance, and year-over-year comparisons to share with internal stakeholders and festival executives
• Identify opportunities to improve forecasting accuracy, inventory efficiency, and reporting processes
• Maintain clean, organized financial documentation for all merchandise programs to support Accounting & Finance processes

Product Sourcing, Development and Buying
• Build orders and collaborate with the Creative team to develop assortments that align with festival brand identity, customer demand, and meet profitability targets
• Determine product mix, pricing strategy, and depth of inventory by category and channel, ensuring cost and budget projections are updated as needed
• Source products from the domestic imprintables market and custom manufacturing partners that meet desired aesthetic direction, quality standards and cost targets
• Negotiate and set contract terms for suppliers including payment terms, quality standards, and delivery deadlines
• Oversee production process from initial development to in-hands date, proactively identifying potential bottle necks, risks or other problems to address appropriately
• Work with Creative Managers to develop and maintain production calendars, establishing timelines for multi-category production for both onsite and online programs
• Support Director of Merchandise by researching and sourcing new vendors, and help maintain strong relationships with established vendor base

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Ecommerce Manager to ensure inventory allocations, product data, and launch timing are aligned for post-festival and online sales strategies
• Partner with Operations Manager to facilitate inventory logistics, visual merchandising strategy, and other onsite needs
• Provide insights and recommendations to Marketing and Sponsorship teams as needed to support merchandise storytelling, activations and promotions

WHAT THIS PERSON WILL BRING
• 3-4 years of experience in retail merchandising, planning, or buying
• Bachelor's degree; coursework in accounting or finance strongly preferred
• Experience in revenue optimization, creative and product development, omni channel activations
• Deep understanding of merchandising and marketing strategies within a retail environment
• Proficiency Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong analytical background and experience building custom reporting using Data Visualization tools and dashboards
• Working knowledge of project management tools such as Asana and Airtable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with internal teams, vendors, and external business partners
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism and sound judgement in all business interactions
• Proactive, analytical, and collaborative mindset with strong attention to detail
• Ability to successfully balance both qualitative and quantitative information when recommending appropriate strategies and tactics
• Creative and curious mindset with an interest in fashion, merchandise, and live events
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain effective in high-pressure environments
• Excellent organizational skills
• Willingness and ability to travel and work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends during festivals

C3 CORE COMPETENCIES
• Demonstrate integrity in the way you operate in day-to-day business and the way you deal with people
• Communicate effectively with various audiences by organizing and delivering information appropriately and listening actively to others
• Proactively seek solutions to problems. Be enthusiastic and energetic in your approach to your job. Commit to putting in extra effort with a positive attitude.
• Be flexible in handling change, able to juggle multiple demands, and adaptable to new situations with fresh ideas or innovative approaches
• Stay composed, confident, optimistic, and in problem-solving mode when the going gets tough
• Possess the skills needed to perform your job well, paying close attention to detail, accuracy, and completeness