Sr. Planning, Planning Manager

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and results-driven Senior Manager of Planning to join our dynamic team. This role is tailored for someone who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment, enjoys solving complex business challenges, and has a proven track record of developing and executing business strategies.

Responsibilities

• Build bottom-up sales plans by category that support overall total North America Outlet financial strategies and inventory metrics
• Analyze business trends to identify risks and opportunities
• Create and maintain annual, monthly, and daily sales plans reconciling them to topline projections and forecasts
• Partner with buying counterpart to plan and execute category promotion and markdown strategies aligned with business needs, gross margin goals, historical trends, and merchandising guidelines
• Contribute to inventory / allocation execution by partnering with direct report / allocator to manage store and DC inventory, in-season transfers, new store openings, etc
• Own the financial strategy across Footwear, Ready-to-Wear, and Licensed categories
• Develop and manage annual and seasonal financial plans, including sales, margin, inventory, receipts, and discount rate
• Partner with Buying, CMP and merchandising to build assortment strategies that support topline financial objectives
• Proactively analyze business trends and performance to identify risks and opportunities, providing strategic recommendations to leadership and cross-functional partners
• Lead weekly and monthly business reviews, serving as the voice of the business through clear insights, actionable recommendations, and a strong point of view
• Develop inventory strategies that maximize sales, profitability, and store capacity across 45+ Outlet stores
• Partner with Associate Allocator to ensure inventory is flowing to the right stores at the right time while maintaining healthy store and Distribution Center inventory levels
• Optimize inventory productivity through replenishment strategies (Auto Allocation), and proactive inventory management i.e. healthy weeks of supply, sales-to-stock relationships and proactively recommending actions to improve and mitigate risk
• Balance long-term inventory strategies with business needs to support continued growth and operational efficiency
• Serve as the strategic planning partner to Buying, CMP, Finance, Store Operations, Logistics, Visual, DC and external vendor partners
• Build strong cross-functional relationships that drive alignment, accountability, and execution across key business initiatives
• Lead and develop an Associate Allocator through coaching, guidance and ongoing development to ensure strong execution and future growth
• Influence business decisions by translating complex data into meaningful insights and actionable strategies
• Represent Planning as a trusted business partner, bringing a proactive mindset, strategic perspective, and solutions-oriented approach to every decision

Qualifications

• BA/BS or equivalent
• 10+ years of merchandise planning experience
• Deep understanding of retail financial metrics such as sell-through, discount rate, margin, inventory turn, and weeks of supply
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities
• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Excel; experience with planning and forecasting tools
• Excellent leadership and communication skills; ability to motivate and inspire teams

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with retail planning and forecasting software

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being. Highlights include:

• Generous employee discount
• Access to exclusive sample sales
• Free executive coaching on-demand
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs
• Flexible work arrangements
• Volunteer days

Pay

The compensation range for this position is $125,000.00 USD - $160,000.00 USD. Our offer will be based on your relevant experience and work location.

Schedule

Our ideal candidate will be able to work full-time and may be required to work some weekends and evenings as needed.