Demand Planning and Inventory Manager

Summary:

The Demand Planning and Inventory Manager is responsible for translating data and analytics, account sales expectations, and other anticipated demand drivers into precise SKU-level demand plans for their area of focus. They will create and execute inventory strategies that support these plans, total company sales and profitability goals, and inventory turn targets. In partnership with product merchandising, this individual will continuously track and reconcile the demand plans within their area of focus and proactively balance supply levels to ensure the company is capitalizing on opportunity and mitigating risk. This role is highly collaborative and will work diligently to coordinate cross-functional activities necessary to balance supply and demand and maintain healthy inventory levels for the entirety of a product’s lifecycle.  

Responsibilities:

• Support seasonal buy process by creating SKU level inventory plans that align with sales projections, overall inventory turn goals, and profitability expectations for area of focus. 
• Develop, maintain and communicate rolling 6–12-month demand models by account at the SKU level. Lead regular performance reviews with Sales/merchandise team members, identifying large deltas and driving for consensus on forward looking plans. 
• Utilize sales data, customer trends and known market conditions to model out different sell-through and demand scenarios, comparing to current demand plans to identify outliers that predict potential future risk. Share findings and determine if preemptive action should be taken to impact current Supply Chain activity. 
• Regularly monitor SKU level inventory position against demand to identify opportunities or liabilities. Provide insight to senior leadership and collaborate on appropriate actions to address that support overall profitability and operational goals.
• Use a collaborative approach in working with various cross functional partners (Sales, Finance, Ops, Marketing, 3PL) to ensure that current and accurate information is incorporated into demand plans.
• Track and report on topline monthly forecast accuracy by account. Work with Sales to report on forward-looking forecasts, understanding shifts and gaps to current demand plans.
• Generate weekly/monthly/quarterly reporting for multiple levels of the organization that provides insight to various sales and inventory metrics.
• Support month end reconciliation of sales and inventory activity. Provide insight into deviations from sales and inventory plans and support efforts to reforecast future outcomes. 
• Ensure inventory accuracy through efficient and detailed maintenance of system inventory movements (adjustments, transfers, etc.). Develop tracking system and monthly reporting that provide insights into frequency of, and reasoning for, these movements. 
• Support the organization in creating and implementing new reporting that provides actionable insight and measures key performance indicators.
• Proactively seek out process improvement efforts within department that yield greater efficiencies and support revenue growth.
• Support the organization in maintaining detailed, accurate information across multiple data platforms.
• Support organization with future ERP customization needs and planning software selection.
• Assist in ad hoc reporting and analysis, as needed.

Required Qualifications & Skills (Need to Have):

• Bachelor’s degree in quantitative disciplines, supply chain or related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in demand planning, sales forecasting, and/or inventory planning and management for an Apparel brand
• Ability to compile and analyze large, complex sets of data and translate into meaningful and actionable insight.
• Excellent analytical and scenario modeling skills
• Experience planning for both Amazon and other DTC channels.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (i.e., Excel, Power Point, Word)
• Fluent in complex Excel formulas and applications (vlookups, sumifs, pivot tables, etc)
• Understanding of retail math calculations and application
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex problems and solutions in a straightforward and digestible manner.
• Solution orientated; embraces new challenges and is comfortable with some level of ambiguity.

Desired Qualifications & Skills (Nice to Have):

• Experience servicing large retailers (Target, Walmart, etc.)
• Experience working with ERP software is desirable but not mandatory.
• Experience planning for both Wholesale channels.
• Familiarity with S&OP process

Company Benefits and Achievements:

• We offer a generous paid time off policy for optimal work-life balance.
• All employees receive high-quality thermal wear for winter comfort.
• Recognized as the top thermal wear seller on Amazon, highlighting our market excellence.