General Summary
The Space Planning Technical Analyst serves as the senior technical resource for Family Dollar's Space Planning systems, planogram assignment processes, replenishment authorization, and merchandising support applications. This position is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the enterprise planogram assignment database while leading technical initiatives that improve system performance, reporting, automation, and business processes.
The Space Planning Technical Analyst partners closely with the Space Planning Manager to develop, implement, and support enhancements across the Store Planogram Assignment database and Material Generation processes. This role serves as the primary technical liaison between Visual Merchandising, Information Technology, Merchandising, Pricing, Trait Management, Store Operations, and Store Development.
In addition to maintaining assignment accuracy for more than 7,000 Family Dollar stores, this position leads complex analytical projects, develops reporting solutions, performs root cause analysis, evaluates new business requirements, coordinates user acceptance testing, documents system enhancements, and mentors Space Planning Analysts on technical processes and best practices.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
- Serve as the senior technical expert for the Store Planogram Assignment database, Planogram Material Order System, and related support applications.
- Lead maintenance and optimization of planogram-to-store assignments supporting monthly resets, revisions, renovations, new stores, relocations, strategic merchandising initiatives, and special projects.
- Analyze store traits, clustering strategies, fixture capacity, replenishment requirements, operational constraints, compliance initiatives, and merchandising objectives to determine optimal planogram assignments.
- Develop, maintain, and improve replenishment authorization records that drive store-specific assortments, inventory flow, and downstream merchandising processes.
- Lead technical analysis, design, testing, implementation, and documentation of system enhancements supporting Space Planning and Visual Merchandising.
- Partner with Information Technology and business stakeholders to define functional requirements, document business processes, coordinate user acceptance testing, and validate system enhancements.
- Develop automated reporting, dashboards, scorecards, data validation tools, and analytical solutions using Excel, SQL, Power Query, and other reporting platforms.
- Perform root cause analysis on assignment issues, replenishment discrepancies, material generation errors, and system defects while developing long-term corrective actions.
- Maintain and improve the enterprise fixture database supporting remodels, new stores, relocations, and merchandising initiatives.
- Evaluate field-requested planogram and fixture assignment changes, determine operational impact, recommend solutions, and implement approved changes.
- Lead data integrity initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve assignment accuracy, reporting automation, workflow efficiency, and system controls.
- Support assortment optimization, clustering strategies, fixture productivity analysis, and enterprise merchandising initiatives through advanced analytical modeling.
- Create technical documentation, process maps, user procedures, and training materials supporting Space Planning systems and business processes.
- Provide technical guidance, coaching, and subject matter expertise to Space Planning Analysts while promoting best practices across the department.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex store and field inquiries involving planograms, planogram materials, replenishment authorization, fixture assignments, and system functionality.
- Partner with Visual Merchandising Managers, Merchandising, Pricing, Trait Management, Store Development, Store Operations, and IT to support enterprise merchandising execution.
- Assist the Space Planning Manager in evaluating new technologies, identifying process improvements, and developing long-term system strategies.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Information Systems, Retail Merchandising, Analytics, or related field preferred.
Experience
- Five or more years of retail merchandising, space planning, analytical, inventory planning, retail systems, or related experience.
- Advanced experience with retail planogram assignment systems and large-scale retail operations.
- Experience supporting enterprise merchandising systems, system implementations, business process improvement, or technical analysis preferred.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects without direct supervisory responsibility preferred.
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel including Pivot Tables, Power Query, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, Power Pivot, and advanced formulas.
- SQL experience preferred.
- Blue Yonder Space Planning (Spaceman) preferred.
- Experience with Retek or comparable retail merchandising and replenishment systems.
- Experience developing dashboards, reporting automation, and analytical tools.
- Strong understanding of retail replenishment, clustering methodologies, store attributes, fixture management, and planogram assignment processes.
- Ability to analyze large data sets and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
Other Skills
- Strong analytical and technical problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong process improvement mindset.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to influence business partners without direct authority.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while mentoring others.
- Demonstrated ability to document business requirements and translate business needs into technical solutions.
Projected Salary Range: $65,000 - $74,000
Family Dollar is an equal opportunity employer and committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We are committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities
Full time
510 Volvo Parkway,Chesapeake,Virginia 23320
Planning
Family Dollar