Retail Merchandise Planning and Allocation (MP&A) Senior Consultant

About the role

This job is posted in multiple locations. When not at a client site, consultants work from their home office. Relocation is not required. Clarkston Consulting is seeking motivated, self-driven leaders who are energized by team results and interested in joining a firm that values its culture and people as its biggest strengths. Come join us as a Retail Merchandise Planning and Allocation (MP&A) Senior Consultant, and in this role, you will deliver creative business solutions to our market-leading clients in the life sciences, consumer products, and retail industries. Together, we can find the answers to our clients' most challenging business problems through a combination of our industry expertise, business process knowledge, and consulting excellence. What You'll Do As a Retail MP&A Senior Consultant at Clarkston you will: Collaborate with business and IT stakeholders to define and implement merchandising, planning, and allocation solutions Facilitate requirements gathering and design sessions, translating business needs into clear, actionable requirements Support end-to-end process design across merchandising functions, including planning, allocation, and forecasting Contribute to system implementation efforts from design through testing and go-live Develop process documentation, including process maps and standard operating procedures Support testing efforts, including scenario development, test case creation, defect tracking, and resolution Provide insights on system capabilities and leading practices across merchandising and planning platforms Help drive alignment across stakeholders and support change management activities How You'll Grow Beyond your day-to-day responsibilities, throughout your career at Clarkston you will: Receive the support and mentorship of your Clarkston colleagues and leaders Expand your existing skillset with internal and external professional development opportunities Travel Requirement Travel is an integral part of this role and is estimated to average 30-50%. This may vary based upon client and project needs. When not traveling, consultants work from their home office. Relocation is not required. What We're Looking For Working knowledge of end-to-end retail merchandising processes and how they connect across the value chain, including: Product Development (PLM, PIM, and item data processes), Costing and Procurement, Assortment Planning, Merchandise Financial Planning, Allocation and Replenishment, Demand Planning and Forecasting, Pricing and Promotion, Size and Pack Optimization 5+ years of experience working across both business and IT teams within a retail organization or consulting environment Experience supporting or participating in software implementations, from design through go-live Ability to facilitate discussions and ask insightful questions to clarify business requirements Experience with process design, process mapping, and documentation Experience with testing activities, including test planning, execution, and defect management Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at multiple levels Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt in a dynamic project environment Ability to influence and align stakeholders, with or without direct authority Experience with merchandising, planning, or allocation systems such as Anaplan, Blue Yonder, o9, Toolio, or ToolsGroup Familiarity with how AI/ML is applied in retail merchandising, planning, forecasting, or pricing Team Lead experience Flexibility and adaptability - our consultants work on everything from design to hands-on configuration and can stretch into new roles Thorough client services orientation and accustomed to taking an active role in executing engagements and project plans/tasks Excellent analytical skills and the ability to present and write at publication quality level to communicate findings and recommendations 4-year degree from an accredited college or university More About Clarkston Founded in 1991, Clarkston Consulting delivers technology and management solutions to market leaders in the life sciences, consumer products, and retail industries. At Clarkston, we cultivate success - for our clients, for our people, and for our firm. We utilize a team approach leveraging our collective expertise and industry knowledge to solve our clients' business challenges. AI Statement Clarkston values thoughtful and responsible AI use for resume writing, interview preparation, and research. However, real-time use of AI to generate or script answers during interviews - including video or live conversations - is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification. We seek candidates who show authenticity, good judgment, and genuine engagement throughout the process. Our benefits include: Comprehensive Health and Wellness Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and more) 401k with company contributions Paid vacation, personal days, holidays, and sick leave Paid Parental Leave and Family Building Benefits

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