Director of Planning - Contract in Hermosa Beach, California at Hammitt Inc

Join the Hammitt Crew

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Hammitt designs luxury handbags and accessories crafted from premium materials, finished with jewelry-grade hardware and rooted in thoughtful, functional design. We are dedicated to delivering a seamless customer experience across a curated mix of eCommerce, retail, and wholesale channels. As we continue to grow, we’re seeking passionate, driven individuals to join our team and be part of our story.

We are thrilled to welcome a talented, passionate individual to the Hammitt family, someone eager to embrace our lifestyle, champion our brand, and help bring our vision to life. At Hammitt, culture is something we live every day. We are intentional about fostering a vibrant, people-first environment where creativity, collaboration, and community flourish. We are looking for someone who is energized to grow with us, contribute to our incredible team, and be part of something truly special.

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.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime, unique opportunity to steer the financial course of Hammitt's most vital categories during this 6-month contract. We are looking for a mission-driven leader who thrives on complex problem-solving and team leadership. This is a senior role where your expertise will be immediately visible, directly influencing the growth and success of one of the fastest-growing luxury brands in Los Angeles. Join the Mission: Drive Our Seasonal Strategy and Keep Our Planning Processes Thriving.