JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF MERCHANDISE FINANCIAL PLANNING, PLCB

JOB CODE: 02385

DEFINITION: This is responsible administrative and managerial work directing the Bureau of Merchandise Financial Planning in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).

The employee in this job directs and manages the statewide merchandise planning and reporting activities and directs the development of inventory strategies to increase revenue and profitability across all sales channels. Work involves developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive Merchandise Financial Plans, and policies and operational procedures for forecasting, inventory management, merchandising, and financial planning activities to achieve PLCB financial and operational objectives. Work includes establishing sales goals and objectives for staff, preparing inventory flow strategies across various business channels, developing financial frameworks to make data-driven investment decisions, and preparing and analyzing financial and statistical reports. Work also involves advising executives on proposed policy changes needed to improve operational objectives and agency profitability. Supervision is exercised over professional staff. Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed by an executive supervisor through conferences and reports for overall program effectiveness and adherence to Commonwealth and federal laws and regulations.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Directs, develops, and implements comprehensive Merchandise Financial Plans and policies and procedures for merchandise financial planning activities, including forecasting, inventory management, and merchandising.

• Ensures merchandise operations are aligned with the agency’s overall financial and strategic goals and objectives across all merchandising bureaus, so that executives can make data-driven merchandise financial planning decisions.

• Serves as a key advisor and subject matter expert to executive staff for merchandise planning activities.

• Directs and evaluates profitability and margin analyses and makes appropriate recommendations for sales goals and strategies.

• Develops strategic planning initiatives and documents related to merchandising for the agency.

• Integrates activities across agency organizations.

• Directs and oversees the collection and analysis of relevant data, facts, and trends to enhance the capabilities and performance of the bureau.

• Directs the development and evaluation of program performance measures.

• Establishes goals and directs the adjustment of the merchandise financial planning priorities and activities to ensure profitability goals are achieved.

• Develops budgets for open to buy purchases, inventory levels, revenue, and profit margins.

• Analyzes financial planning activity information and statistical data to develop policy recommendations.

• Evaluates policies, regulations, and planning priorities to ensure consistency with state and federal requirements.

• Prepares or directs the preparation of reports, procedural manuals, charts, forms, and other related materials.

• Meets with agency executives and staff to review, discuss, and monitor year-to-date sales and profit statistics, present projected sales, and profits forecasts, and recommends adjustments to plans and related activities.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of sales and operations planning.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of inventory management.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of business administration.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to research, collect, organize, assess, and communicate data.

• Knowledge of statistical data analysis techniques.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Enterprise Resource Planning software.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to analyze and interpret policies and procedures.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written and numerical information.

• Ability to plan, organize, and direct a comprehensive merchandise financial plan for products on a statewide level.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Six years of professional experience in the development of merchandising strategies, including two years of supervisory experience in purchasing, forecasting, inventory management, financial planning, finance, merchandising, or business operations, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes two years of professional supervisory experience in purchasing, forecasting, inventory management, financial planning, finance, merchandising, or business operations.