Hardgoods Category Planner

Reports to: The Hardgoods Category Planner will report to the Senior Merchandise Planner 

Location: Niseko

Term: September - 31st March, 2027

Compensation: DOE

Position Summary 

The Hardgoods Category Planner is responsible for the financial planning, execution, and performance of assigned merchandise categories.

Working closely with Buyers and the Senior Merchandise Planner, this role owns and manages category plans, ensuring assortments, buy plans, and inventory are aligned to financial targets and business strategy and effectively executed in-season. The role owns category-level forecasting, OTB management, and in-season trading, driving performance from pre-season planning through to post-season review.

Key Responsibilities 

Category Planning & Forecasting

• Build and manage category-level plans aligned to financial targets, including sales, margin, and inventory
• Develop and maintain forecasts, including sales curves and demand planning, to support buying decisions
• Allocate and manage OTB across categories and sub-categories
• Apply volume, depth, and option counts to assortments in line with demand forecasts
• Update plans and forecasts in-season based on trade performance and emerging trends
• Ensure buy plans remain aligned to OTB, highlighting risks and providing recommendations where required

Assortment Development (with Buyers)

• Partner with Buyers to build assortments, combining product selection with financial planning
• Ensure assortments are balanced across price points, depth, and expected performance
• Provide guidance on option counts, depth, and category investment

In-Season Trading & Inventory Management

• Monitor category performance and support in-season trading decisions
• Own in-season reorder decisions, working with Buyers where product input is required
• Manage allocation, replenishment, and stock movements across stores working with Merchandising and Operations to support execution
• Identify risks and opportunities and implement actions including reallocations and markdowns
• Maintain healthy inventory levels, stock cover, and sell-through performance

Procurement & Order Execution

• Provide clear visibility on buy plans, changes, and priorities
• Support order preparation, ensuring accuracy across pricing, quantities, and product data
• Prepare and maintain buy plans and order forms, ensuring accuracy across quantities, pricing, and product data
• Review supplier order confirmations with Buyers to ensure accuracy across quantities, pricing, and product selection

Analysis, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Analyse performance to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Provide insights to support in-season trading and future planning
• Track performance against plan across sales, margin, and inventory
• Complete post-season reviews and identify key learnings
• Recommend improvements to forecasting, assortment, and planning processes 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the central coordination point across Buyers, Procurement, Merchandising, and Operations, ensuring clear communication of key decisions and priorities to support planning, execution, and in-season trading
• Communicate performance, risks, and opportunities clearly to stakeholders
• Support execution of seasonal strategies across categories and locations

What you’ll need to succeed

• Strong product knowledge across skis, snowboards, boots, and hardgoods accessories.
• Strong experience in retail planning, merchandising, or inventory management, ideally within hardgoods or similar product categories. Solid understanding of OTB, forecasting, sell-through, margin, and inventory lifecycle management.
• Highly proficient in Excel or equivalent tools, with strong analytical skills and the ability to turn data into clear commercial actions. Comfortable building and maintaining forecasts, managing inventory plans, and supporting in-season trading decisions.
• Experience working closely with Buyers or cross-functional teams in a collaborative planning environment, with the ability to influence decisions and balance commercial priorities.
• Strong attention to detail, well-organised, and able to manage multiple categories in a fast-paced retail environment. Relevant tertiary qualification in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain or similar is preferred but not essential

The Perks and Benefits 

As a Rhythm employee, you’ll experience the same legendary hospitality we extend to our guests. We’re passionate about looking after our crew, and here are just a few of the perks you’ll enjoy when you join our team:

• Live, Work, and Play in Paradise: Immerse yourself in one of the world’s top mountain resorts.
• Work with a Legendary Crew: Join a team that’s passionate, fun-loving, and deeply connected to the industry.
• Subsidized Staff Accommodation: Affordable housing options and housing assistance to help you settle in.
• Epic Social Scene: From team ride days and department dinners to staff parties, events, and day trips, our social calendar is packed with opportunities to connect and unwind.
• Wellness and Lifestyle Benefits: Access the Rhythm Wellness program, enjoy free snowsports or bike demos, and take advantage of generous store discounts for you, your friends, and your family.
  
  

You will be part of a company with a flexible, fun, work hard play hard culture. If you know anyone that has worked for us before you will know this is not just a list of benefits but an experience of a lifetime that is born from the unique and passionate culture we have. We put people first in everything we do, because people like you make Rhythm and life at Rhythm what it is.

What you need to do now

If you have the skills and experience required for this role and reflect the culture and core values at Rhythm Japan apply now.