Allocation Optimization Manager

Away; New York (NY); On-site; USD 112,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off programs

Equity grant

Annual bonus plan

Discounts on travel

Job summary

Away in New York City is seeking an Allocation Optimization Manager to join our Merchandising, Planning, & Allocation team. You will own end-to-end inventory lifecycle across 16 retail stores and the digital channel, balancing stock depth and sell-through while collaborating with Engineering and Data teams.

The role requires at least 5 years in Retail Planning/Allocation/OTB, advanced Excel, and experience with Oracle, Blue Yonder or SAP.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Retail Planning, Allocation, or OTB Management within a multi-unit retail environment (10-50 stores preferred).
• Advanced Excel (dynamic data structures, scenario modeling, complex formulas) and experience with enterprise planning software or BI platforms (e.g., Oracle, Blue Yonder, SAP).
• Strong understanding of core retail metrics and processes, including Open-to-Buy (OTB), GMROI, inventory turn, Weeks of Supply (WOS), and sell-through.
• Ability to navigate matrixed teams across Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, Stores, and 3PL/Operations.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute initial allocations, seasonal floorsets, and ongoing replenishment across 16 retail stores and the e-commerce channel, maintaining optimal stock depth and sell-through rates.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Data teams to test and support tool logic refinements and process enhancements.
• Execute store replenishment and evaluate store performance using tiering frameworks, incorporating local trends and demographics.
• Identify location-specific best sellers and slow movers, and translate trends into actionable recommendations for future seasons.
• Maintain an active feedback loop with Store Managers and District Managers to address hyper-local trends and store needs in allocation strategies.
• Manage monthly Open-to-Buy (OTB) tracking and reporting, in partnership with Planning leadership.
• Support Merch Planning Director and Finance in tracking store revenue plans and variances between targets and trends.
• Perform fleet inventory health analysis and propose operational adjustments to planning leadership.
• Collaborate with Operations and 3PL partners to optimize delivery schedules and inventory flow across the fleet.

Skills

Retail Planning

Allocation

OTB Management

Excel

Data-driven

Tools

Oracle

Blue Yonder

SAP

Job description

About Away

We believe travel makes us better. Launched in 2016 with one perfectly designed carry-on, we now offer a range of luggage and travel essentials for every journey. Together we create, innovate, and embark on this journey as a community of travelers, helping to make travel more seamless for everyone.

Join The Crew

We are hiring an Allocation Optimization Manager to join our Merchandising, Planning, & Allocation team. This position reports to the VP, Merchandising and takes Away further by managing inventory allocation workflows and supporting the operational growth of our retail stores and digital channel. Sitting at the intersection of Allocation, Merchandise Planning, and Store Operations, the Allocation Optimization Manager owns the end-to-end inventory lifecycle across our 16 retail locations and digital channel.

If you are a data-driven retail planner who loves solving complex puzzles and wants to build the automation that scales a business, this is your launchpad.

What you'll do as the Allocation Optimization Manager

Core Fleet Allocation & Workload Evolution

• You’ll own and execute initial allocations, seasonal floorsets, and ongoing replenishment across 16 retail stores and the e-commerce channel, maintaining optimal fleet-wide stock depth and sell-through rates

• You’ll execute allocation routines and collaborate with Engineering and Data teams to test and support tool logic refinements and process enhancements

Store Planning & Assortment Strategy

• You’ll execute store replenishment and evaluate store performance using established tiering frameworks, incorporating local climate, capacity, historical trends, and demographic insights

• You’ll identify location-specific best sellers and slow movers, synthesizing performance trends into actionable recommendations for Merchandising for future seasons

• You’ll maintain an active feedback loop with Store Managers and District Managers to incorporate hyper-local trends, competitive shifts, and unique store needs into allocation strategies

Financial Planning & Open-to-Buy (OTB)

• You’ll manage monthly Open-to-Buy (OTB) tracking and reporting process for the retail fleet, evaluating sales and receipt variances in partnership with Planning leadership

• You’ll support the Merch Planning Director and Finance team in tracking store-level revenue plans and identifying variances between top-down targets and bottom-up trends

• You’ll perform fleet inventory health analysis, escalating identified stock risks and proposing operational adjustments to planning leadership

System Implementation & Operational Alignment

• You’ll collaborate with Operations and 3PL partners to optimize delivery schedules, stock buffer management, and inventory flow across the fleet

Who you are

• You have a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Retail Planning, Allocation, or OTB Management within a multi-unit retail environment (10-50 stores preferred)

• You’re advanced in Excel (dynamic data structures, scenario modeling, complex formulas) and have experience with enterprise planning software or BI platforms (e.g., Oracle, Blue Yonder, SAP)

• You have a deep understanding of core retail metrics and processes, including Open-to-Buy (OTB), GMROI, inventory turn, Weeks of Supply (WOS), and sell-through

• You have the strategic mindset that balances macro chain-level targets across 17 stores and e-commerce with micro, store-level allocation precision

• You have the proven ability to navigate matrixed teams across Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, Stores, and 3PL/Operations

• You’re a strong communicator with a track record of presenting data-driven insights to leadership and partnering with field teams to translate qualitative store feedback into actionable inventory strategies

• You’re creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand

• You’re agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment

• You’re passionate about transforming travel for all (but that’s a given!)

Who We Are

• We're travelers. Travel is about the journey - the transformative experiences and the growth each trip offers. All employees are encouraged to take time to get away through our variety of time away from work offerings.

• We're driven. The work we do matters and collectively drives impact. No matter the job title, everyone at Away is a meaningful contributor in unlocking our ever growing potential.

• We're supportive. We value the entirety of your life's journey, not just the milestones. You'll find an environment that celebrates balance, understanding that your personal passions and commitments outside of work, are threads of the same fabric that makes you unique.

What We Offer

Our total rewards are inclusive of both compensation and benefits. What we offer within a salary range is dependent on a number of factors, including scope and qualifications for the role, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to other Away employees. Salary and benefit offerings are reviewed during phone screenings to ensure alignment.

• Compensation: $112,000.00-$120,000.00 annually

• This role is eligible to participate in Away's Annual Company Performance Incentive Bonus Plan, the terms of which are determined at the discretion of the company

• Equity Grant: commensurate with level determined at the discretion of the company

• Benefits Overview:

  • Take care of yourself and your family through our health insurance offerings

  • Invest in your future by participating in our 401(k) (with a company match!)

  • Find balance through our many paid time off programs (vacation, wellbeing, holidays, summer Fridays, and compassion leave - just to name a few!)

  • Build your travel uniform through discount codes, product stipends, and giveaways

  • Give back through company-sponsored volunteer and charitable opportunities

How We Work

This is an office-based position that works from our Soho, NYC office four days a week. Our working hours are 9am-6pm et, but we embrace a common-sense approach to flexibility in the workplace. It's about being present, engaged, and balancing work with real-life needs.

Our Commitment

As a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Away seeks individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply for this opportunity. We're creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Our customers are global and diverse, so we're building a team that is too. Through initiatives like our Employee Resource Groups, anti-racism training, and bias prevention initiatives, we're building the cultural foundation that gives people the emotional and physical space to bring their authentic selves to work.

EEOC Statement:

Away is dedicated to hiring a diverse workplace that celebrates an inclusive culture and a sense of belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information or disability.

Away is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].