The Role

We are seeking an experienced Director/Senior Merchandise Planner and Buyer to join our team for a critical six-month maternity leave coverage. In this senior-level contract role, you will take immediate ownership of our planning, forecasting, and buying strategies across both DTC and Wholesale channels. As a vital contributor to Hammitt's financial health, the ideal candidate can step in with minimal ramp-up time, work cross-functionally with production, sales, eCommerce, and marketing, and keep existing planning tools, budgets, and processes running smoothly.

Job Summary

• Lead Summer and Fall buy planning and strategy for the Fashion category.
• Own Core and Seasonal Core replenishment planning across both eCommerce and Wholesale channels.
• Own and update the Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget, and maintain and leverage the Core Forecast Tool.
• Analyze and report on Fashion seasonal sell-through performance, with recommendations for reorder action.
• Prepare and present margin reporting to leadership.
• Create/distribute seasonal buy-sheets to cross-functional partners.
• Make delivery timing decisions (air vs. boat) to balance cost and speed-to-market.
• Manage box forecasting and buying.
• Prepare and own weekly DTC deck slides covering sell-through and performance information.
• Oversee the Associate Buyer in allocation strategy for new and current retail store rollouts.
• Partner with production, sales, and marketing teams to proactively identify and mitigate product supply risks.
• Leverage advanced data modeling techniques to optimize inventory health across all channels.

Knowledge, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in merchandise planning/buying, with prior ownership of OTB and seasonal buy strategy.
• Proven experience managing planning across both DTC and Wholesale channels.
• Strong track record of managing margin, sell-through, and inventory health independently.
• Experience in leading and mentoring a team.
• Advanced Excel/forecasting tool proficiency; comfortable owning planning tools with little training, including experience utilizing AI for Excel modeling.
• Previous experience in NetSuite and Shopify is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent seasonal cycles under minimal supervision.
• Available to start with a short onboarding runway, given the coverage nature of the role.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; resourceful problem solver with a proactive and collaborative approach.
• Adaptable with the ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic fast-paced environment.

Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Employment Type: Contract (6-month maternity leave coverage)