Distribution Planner

The Role + Purpose

The Distribution Planner is responsible for driving allocation, replenishment, and inventory flow strategies that support sales, productivity, and inventory health across the business. This role partners closely with Planning, Merchandising, and cross-functional teams to translate business trends into actionable recommendations at the product, category, and item level. The Distribution Planner balances strategic thinking with strong execution, while also contributing to process improvement, team development, and overall business continuity.

Responsibilities

• Analyze hindsight reporting to identify missed opportunities, inventory risks, and category-level learnings that inform future assortment and buy strategies
• Provide recommendations on minimum buys, category investment, and size curve opportunities to help shape preseason inventory plans
• Publish recommendations to cross-functional teams to support rollout and allocation planning, ensuring inventory strategies align with business goals
• Review historical performance, receipt timing, and assortment needs to recommend strategies that optimize future inventory flow
• Independently manage style-level outbound planning and allocation execution to support sales, inventory productivity, and flow of goods
• Create and analyze reporting and allocate initial ASN’s for rollout launches, making recommendations based on current performance and inventory position
• Support the development, testing, and refinement of reporting and tools that improve visibility into allocation performance and business opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3+ years of experience in allocation, distribution planning, replenishment, inventory management, or related analytical retail experience
• Strong analytical, financial, and retail math skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and aptitude to learn new systems and technical applications quickly
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across teams
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive results through execution

Preferred

• Experience in a multi-channel retail environment
• Familiarity with allocation, forecasting, or inventory management systems
• Experience supporting rollout strategies, replenishment, or size optimization
• Prior experience mentoring junior team members or serving as an informal team resource