Associate Director, Merchandise Planning

About the Role

Brilliant Earth is seeking an Associate Director of Merchandise Planning to lead our Inventory Planning function and team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Merchandising, you will own forecasting, open-to-buy, and inventory strategy across all categories and functions, as well as the roadmap to advance our planning capabilities. This role blends strategic planning with hands-on building, as you shape our evolving planning infrastructure, implement new tools, and elevate the analytical standards of the team.

Responsibilities

• Inventory Strategy and Forecasting
  • Own sales and inventory forecasts across all categories and functions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and achievement of inventory plans and KPIs.
  • Set inventory strategy for fine jewelry assortments, including diamond, gemstone, and precious metal commodities, establishing parameters (weeks of supply, safety stock, reorder points) to balance service levels and inventory productivity.
  • Lead inventory planning for new showroom launches and growth initiatives, directing scenario modeling and statistical analysis to pressure-test plans.
• Open-to-Buy and Financial Planning
  • Own and evolve the OTB alignment and consensus process, translating financial plans into actionable buying strategies with Merchandising and Finance.
  • Contribute to annual budget-setting for bookings, ASP, and margin, bringing the inventory perspective to category and department targets while reporting against inventory KPIs.
• Planning Systems and Process
  • Create and drive the Inventory Planning roadmap, working with leadership to prioritize and approve projects and manage long-term program schedules through adoption.
  • Partner with Technology on planning system implementation and maintenance, leading team adoption of new demand planning and reporting tools.
  • Adapt planning tools and models to integrate with evolving enterprise systems, identifying gaps, developing workarounds, and implementing durable solutions.
  • Leverage AI tools to automate recurring analysis and reporting, and drive the rollout of new AI-enabled planning workflows across the function.
• Team Leadership and Partnership
  • Manage, coach, and develop a growing planning team through hiring, feedback, and clear team objectives.
  • Raise planning fluency across the organization by mentoring cross-functional Merchandising partners on forecasting and inventory principles.
  • Represent Planning credibly to executive leadership.

Requirements

• 10+ years in merchandise planning, inventory planning, forecasting, or quantitative analysis within retail, product, or e-commerce, including demonstrated success leading and developing a team.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certification a plus.
• Experience with attribute-based or commodity inventory planning (precious metals, gemstones, or other specification-driven categories) is a strong plus.
• Expert Excel skills: complex formulas, pivot tables, financial modeling, and efficient handling of large datasets. Retail math is second nature.
• Hands-on experience with demand planning software (Blue Yonder, Logility, Demantra, o9, MI9, or similar) and reporting/BI tools (Domo, Tableau, Power BI); NetSuite or comparable ERP experience a plus.
• Track record of leading system implementations and cross-functional programs end-to-end—from defining business requirements through adoption—including new forecasting tools, report automation, and process redesign.
• Experience with AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude, Excel Copilot, BI-native AI features, Snowflake Intelligence) to automate analysis; familiarity with prompt engineering and connecting AI tools to live data sources is highly valued.
• Comfort operating in an evolving systems environment: ability to identify gaps, build workarounds, and implement lasting processes.
• Expert written and verbal communication, with clear, direct, and concise presentations to broader teams and executive leadership.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and a self-starter mindset, with the ability to think critically and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to respect and inclusion in the workplace.
• Interest in socially and environmentally responsible organizations and products.

Benefits

• Career Growth: Regular 1:1s with your manager, training opportunities, and an annual 360 review process to create clear pathways for growth.
• Diverse, Mission-Minded Team: Founded to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, and inclusive jewelry industry.
• Lifestyle Spending Account: Company reimbursements for eligible wellness expenses, such as gym memberships, massage, counseling, and more.
• Continued Education: Company-sponsored learning in leadership, professional skills, diversity & inclusion, and access to tuition reimbursement for role-specific trainings.
• Employee Discounts: Generous discount on Brilliant Earth jewelry.
• Mental Wellness Perks: Access to self-care apps, seminars, and an Employee Assistance Program offering 24/7 counseling.
• Giving Back and Volunteer Opportunities: Support for local initiatives and team volunteering.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision: Multiple plan options, including a $0 monthly premium option for employee health insurance and employer HSA contributions. Coverage begins on the first day of your second month.
• 401k Match: Generous employer match.
• Paid Time Off: Ample time to recharge and relax.
• Parental Leave: Paid leave to support growing families.
• Disability and Life Insurance: 100% employer-paid.
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits: Available for eligible employees.