Director of Planning, MoMA Retail

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Director of Planning for its Retail division. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the planning team in driving sales, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring a consistent and effective assortment of products. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of retail operations. This role reports to the Director of Finance and Strategy of Retail with a dotted line to the General Manager of Retail.

The Museum of Modern Art’s Retail division is an omnichannel business, operating branded stores in NYC, a global e-commerce business, licensing, wholesale operations, and (through external partners) international store locations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Open to Buy Management:
   1. Develop and manage the open to buy (OTB) strategy to ensure optimal inventory levels.
   2. Collaborate with finance and buying teams to monitor and adjust OTB plans based on sales performance and market trends.
2. Inventory Management:
   1. Ensure in-stock positions on key SKUs with a steady flow of merchandise.
   2. Oversee inventory levels to prevent stockouts and overstock situations, balancing supply and demand.
3. Assortment Planning:
   1. Lead the assortment planning process to curate a compelling product mix that aligns with MoMA’s mission and market demand.
   2. Work closely with buyers to select products that resonate with MoMA’s brand and customer base.
4. In-Season Management:
   1. Support buyers in managing in-season performance, including reorders, stock balancing, and reacting to sales trends.
   2. Utilize sales data and market insights to make informed decisions on inventory adjustments and replenishments.
5. Store Productivity and Optimization:
   1. Develop and implement a template for store productivity to measure and optimize performance.
   2. Analyze store productivity metrics and provide actionable insights to improve sales and profitability.
6. Markdowns and Inventory Levels:
   1. Strategize and execute markdown plans to optimize inventory turnover and maximize profitability.
   2. Manage slow-moving inventory (SLOBs) and develop strategies to mitigate financial impact.
7. Allocation:
   1. Oversee the allocation process to ensure the right product is in the right place at the right time.
   2. Collaborate with the allocation team to balance inventory levels across all retail locations and channels.

This position performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or a related field. MBA preferred.
2. Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in retail planning, merchandising, or inventory management.
3. Proven track record of success in managing OTB, inventory levels, and assortment planning in an omnichannel environment.
4. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
5. Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
6. Proficiency in retail planning software and Microsoft Excel.
7. Deep understanding of retail metrics and financial acumen.
8. Passion for art and design preferred but not necessary.

Salary: The salary range for this position is a minimum of $170,000 to a maximum of $205,000 per annum.

Other: MoMA Retail employees work a hybrid schedule of four days in the office and one day remote, subject to change as business needs necessitate.

Application instructions: To apply, please visit MoMA Jobs . Applicants should submit a resume and a statement of interest/cover letter. The statement must include a response to the following prompt: The Director of Planning role is new at MoMA. Given that there will be one direct report on the planning team in year one, please share your approach to prioritize, focus, and maximize the impact of this role in the first year.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the Museum, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, or any other protected category as established by applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).