<p><strong>ABOUT US</strong></p><p>HirexHire (pronounced hire by hire) is a Chicago-based recruiting and talent consultancy that integrates with companies short-term to provide long-term talent solutions. We take a seat in our client’s everyday operations to understand their people goals, gaps, and challenges. We then develop and implement the processes and technologies to execute a sustainable and scalable talent plan.</p><p>We partner with companies expecting or experiencing high growth which need to hire at scale or fill a critical role rapidly. Our clients are not looking for quick-fix placements but are thoughtfully building a hiring strategy to scale their businesses.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>OUR CLIENT </strong></p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Chicago, IL</p><p><strong>Industry:</strong> Consumer Staple Products, Cannabis</p><p><strong>Company Size:</strong> 4,000+ Employees</p><p><strong>What They Do: </strong>Our client in the cannabis industry currently operates in a quarter of the country with double-digit retail locations and a triple-digit growth rate making them one of the fastest-growing companies in North America. As they avidly tackle nationwide development with cultivation facilities, dispensaries, and their headquarters in Chicago – the demand to fill their teams is at an all-time high.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>THE ROLE</strong></p><p>Our client is seeking a Senior Retail Planner to lead the financial planning, inventory strategy, and allocation efforts for its non-cannabis and ancillary retail categories. This individual will own category forecasting, replenishment planning, inventory productivity, and store-level allocation while partnering closely with the Buying team to drive profitable assortment decisions. The ideal candidate combines strong retail planning expertise with exceptional analytical skills and thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where data informs strategic decision making.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>WHAT YOU WILL DO</strong></p><ul><li>Develop and manage annual, seasonal, and monthly financial plans, forecasts, and open-to-buy strategies for assigned product categories.</li><li>Partner closely with the Buyer to provide data-driven recommendations on assortment planning, product launches, pricing, and end-of-life strategies.</li><li>Build and maintain inventory allocation and replenishment strategies that optimize in-stock levels while minimizing excess inventory.</li><li>Monitor category performance, inventory health, sell-through, and margin trends, identifying opportunities to improve profitability.</li><li>Analyze store performance and customer demand to recommend allocation adjustments, inventory balancing, and SKU optimization.</li><li>Lead regular business reviews, delivering actionable insights and performance reporting to cross-functional stakeholders.</li><li>Support vendor planning through forecasting, volume projections, and inventory recommendations that align with business objectives.</li><li>Collaborate with Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Supply Chain teams to continuously improve inventory planning processes and execution.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>WHAT YOU WILL LIKELY NEED</strong></p><ul><li>5+ years of experience in retail planning, merchandise planning, allocation, or inventory strategy.</li><li>Experience supporting high-SKU, high-volume retail environments with complex inventory management needs.</li><li>Strong understanding of retail planning metrics including open-to-buy, inventory turns, sell-through, gross margin, and forecasting.</li><li>Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into business recommendations.</li><li>Proven ability to influence cross-functional partners through financial analysis and clear communication.</li><li>Experience developing allocation strategies based on store performance, customer demand, and regional trends.</li><li>Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving retail environment.</li><li>Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset.</li><li>Experience with retail planning, merchandising, or inventory management systems is preferred.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS</strong></p><ul><li>Must pass any required background checks.</li><li>Must comply with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry.</li><li>Must possess a valid driver's license and be at least 21 years of age.</li><li>Must be approved by the applicable state badging agency to work in the cannabis industry.</li><li>Candidates should reside in New Jersey or New York and be able to travel to New Jersey approximately once per quarter.</li></ul><p><br></p>