Our Story So Far

Founded in 1862, F.A.O Schwarz is one of the oldest and most iconic toy retailers in the world. Frederick August Otto Schwarz dreamed of a marvelous, bountiful emporium full of extraordinary, one-of-a-kind toys from all over the world. His dream became a reality, and as one of America's oldest brands, we have provided this wonder to families for more than 160 years.

The Job

The Director of Planning will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and execution of product assortments, inventory control, and sales forecasting. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal product availability, maximize profitability, and meet customer demand.

This role requires a deep understanding of retail planning processes, strong analytical skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The ideal candidate will possess a strong ability to analyze data, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing market conditions while driving business growth.

Reporting to: Global Retail General Manager 

What You’ll Do

•       Create financial models and forecasts to enable data-led decision making  

•       Work closely with the finance team to optimize sales and profitability

•       Develop and manage open-to-buy process and ensure efficient allocation of resources

•       Strategically drive the business in order to enhance sales and margin, and optimize inventory

•       Update all KPIs for core vendors monthly, and analyze KPIs for over 50 vendors

•       Report your findings on key data points to the team monthly, including variances across inventory and sales, markdown proposals, liabilities and opportunities, and productivity by floor, by vendor, and by fixture

•       Complete yearly forecasts by vendor by month, assessing constantly to understand opportunities and liabilities 

•       Manage pricing strategies to optimize sales performance and inventory control

•       Analyze SKU mins and maxes on the selling floor and stock room to ensure the store has the right stock to maximize sales

•       Manage by sku demand for ecommerce in the warehouse

•       Manage by sku OTB for all styles on an omni-level to ensure accurate levels of inventory are brought in to drive the right sales, and roll up each month to ensure the proper inventory levels are needed monthly

•       Develop preseason forecast by style/by vendor to give an accurate forecast to the vendors to secure inventory with the goal of maximizing sales

•       Develop best-in-class reporting to help key stakeholders maximize their business

•       Engage and collaborate with General Merchandise Manager to maximize growth and challenge business decisions

•       Analyze sales performance, trends, and market data to make recommendations for optimizing product mix and stock levels.

•       Provide guidance and mentorship to junior planners and support their professional development.

•       Monitor and adjust plans based on sales performance, customer feedback, and market changes.

•       Identifying opportunities & partnering with merchandising and sales teams to develop assortment and new season strategy

What You Have

§  A love of the FAO brand.

§  Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree is a plus).

§  10+ years of experience in retail planning or related roles, with at least 5 years in a senior planner capacity.

§  Strong proficiency in planning software, Excel, and data analysis tools.

§  Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions

§  Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

§  Proven track record of successfully driving inventory optimization, sales growth, and margin improvement.

§  Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, constantly evolving retail environment.

§  Capable of lifting up to 25 pounds, bending and twisting and standing for long periods of time.

This job description should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by this role. Employees are required to perform other related functions as assigned.  

FAO Schwarz is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.    

FAO Schwarz strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, interns, or any other covered persons, on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin including ancestry, ethnicity, sex including pregnancy, gender identity, and transgender status, gender, physical or mental disability, including gender dysphoria and similar gender-related conditions, alienage or citizenship status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, unemployment status, caregiver status, credit history, salary history, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state and local laws, with respect to hiring, promotion, discipline, firing, compensation, benefits, or other terms, conditions or privileges of employment.    

If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, or during the course of your employment, please contact the Director of Human Resources at HR@fao.com.  

Apply online at faoschwarz.com/pages/careers; Indeed.com; or GetHired.com  

FAO Schwarz is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled