Retail Merchandising and Planning - Strategy Manager

Accenture helps the world's leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed for organizations across industries. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients and lead in the safe, widespread adoption of AI, and to be the most client-focused, AI-enabled, great place to work in the world. We bring together the talent of our approximately 799,000 people with proprietary assets and platforms, deep process and industry expertise, and leading ecosystem relationships to deliver end-to-end solutions and measurable outcomes at scale. Through our Reinvention Services, we offer broad expertise across Cybersecurity, Digital Core, Finance, Industry and Enterprise, Song, Supply Chain and Engineering, and Talent, with advanced capabilities in AI and Data, Industry and Process, and Technology. We serve approximately 9,000 clients and generated approximately $70 billion in FY25 revenue. Visit us at www.accenture.com .Retail Merchandising and Planning - Strategy ManagerWe AreAccenture's Retail Merchandising and Planning practice helps the world's leading retailers reinvent how they buy, plan, allocate, and manage product across the value chain. We work at the intersection of merchandising strategy, planning process design, and AI-enabled decision making, helping clients across apparel, hardlines, grocery, and specialty retail modernize their operating models and improve performance in demand forecasting, assortment planning, and inventory productivity.You AreA retail merchandising and planning professional who combines solid functional expertise with strong project leadership. You've spent your career close to the buy, whether in category management, merchandise financial planning, assortment, allocation, replenishment, or demand/supply planning, and you understand how these functions connect end-to-end. You translate that expertise into operating model recommendations, process improvements, and capability roadmaps clients can execute against. You are accountable to realizing value, and you have experience rolling up your sleeves to ensure high adoption of new processes and systems. You're equally comfortable leading a workstream, developing junior team members, and engaging with client stakeholders day to day.The WorkAs a Manager, you will lead key workstreams and projects within larger transformation engagements for retail clients, working closely with client stakeholders and Accenture leadership to shape recommendations, drive execution, and activate results.Engagement LeadershipLead a workstream or project within a broader transformation programCoordinate delivery within your workstream, partnering with adjacent process, data/technology, and change management teams as neededMaintain day-to-day client relationships within your scope and escalate issues to engagement leadership as neededEnsure workstream quality and timelinessMerchandising & Planning TransformationSupport assessments of current-state merchandising, planning, and inventory management capabilities against industry-leading practicesContribute to future-state operating model design spanning category management, merchandise financial planning, assortment planning, allocation, replenishment, demand planning, and supply planningDevelop components of capability strategies, transformation roadmaps, and value cases that quantify the impact of changeApply sub-industry nuance across apparel, hardlines, and/or grocery to tailor recommendations to client-specific dynamicsAI & Technology EnablementBring current knowledge of AI, analytics, and emerging planning technologies to identify where they can solve merchandising and planning business problemsSupport clients in evaluating planning platforms and AI-enabled decision-making tools as part of broader transformationContribute to the design and delivery of GenAI- and agentic-enabled planning capabilities where applicable to client roadmapsBusiness Development & Practice GrowthContribute to proposal development, solutioning, and the broader business development cycle for consulting engagementsSupport the growth of the Retail Merchandising and Planning practice through asset development and community engagementCoach, mentor, and develop junior team membersBasic Qualifications:5 years of relevant professional experience with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following domains: Category Management, Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP), Assortment Planning, Allocation, Replenishment, Demand Planning, or Supply PlanningMinimum of 2 years of experience in professional services at a consulting firm (or equivalent internal consulting experience)Bachelor's degreePreferred Qualifications:Ability to lead large, transformational programs with multiple workstreams and stakeholdersStrong client management skills, including with senior stakeholdersAbility to coach, mentor, and develop junior team membersExcellent written and verbal communication skillsStrong problem-solving ability and sound business judgmentComfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving situationsAbility to resolve issues and manage risk proactivelyAbility to manage and prioritize multiple workstreams in a dynamic environmentFamiliarity with the operational nuances of one or more retail sub-industries, including apparel, hardlines, or groceryExperience designing or supporting operating model design, process reinvention, capability assessments, roadmaps, and value case developmentExperience solutioning approaches to client problems and supporting the business development/proposal cycleWorking knowledge of current trends in technology, analytics, and AI, and how they apply to merchandising and planning business problemsPrior industry experience in Buying, Planning, or Product DevelopmentHands-on experience leveraging AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini in a professional environmentFamiliarity with leading planning platforms such as o9, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, Oracle, or RELEXMBA or equivalent advanced degreeCompensation at Accenture varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Accenture provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below.We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 08/29/2026.Accenture offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here:U.S. Employee Benefits | Accenture (https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers/local/benefits)Role Location Annual Salary RangeCalifornia $87,400 to $253,000Cleveland $87,400 to $253,000Colorado $87,400 to $253,000District of Columbia $87,400 to $253,000Illinois $87,400 to $253,000Maine $87,400 to $253,000Maryland $87,400 to $253,000Massachusetts $87,400 to $253,000Minnesota $87,400 to $253,000New York $87,400 to $253,000New Jersey $87,400 to $253,000Virginia $87,400 to $253,000Washington $87,400 to $253,000Requesting an AccommodationAccenture is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by Accenture and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our reasonable accommodation process. 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