Director of Planning And Allocation

Confidential; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail apparel company is seeking a Director of Planning to oversee assortment planning and demand forecasting. The role requires 7–10 years of experience in planning across DTC and wholesale channels. Responsibilities include leading the planning organization, managing inventory strategies, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and proficiency with planning tools and data analytics.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in planning with proven success in DTC and wholesale.
• Demonstrated expertise in planning cycles, demand forecasting, and inventory management.
• Proficiency with data analytics platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale planning organization's assortment strategy.
• Oversee the planning team's forecasting discipline.
• Serve as a trusted partner to wholesale merchant teams.

Skills

Planning cycles

Demand forecasting

Inventory management

Financial planning

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Supply Chain Management

Tools

Planning/forecasting tools

ERP systems

Job description

This range is provided by Confidential. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$135,000.00/yr - $145,000.00/yr

Our client is a digitally native, rapidly growing childrens apparel company. As the Director of Planning, you will be responsible for assortment planning, elevate demand forecasting, and command inventory management across all channels (DTC, wholesale, retail).

The Director will set vision and direction for the planning function, build scalable frameworks, and develop and mentor talent that partners cross-functionally to deliver measurable financial outcomes. This role will champion process rigor, mentor talent, and position planning as a critical driver of organizational growth and success.

Key Responsibilities

• Assortment Planning
• Lead and scale the planning organization’s assortment strategy, ensuring category and channel-level plans align with consumer demand and financial objectives.
• Own and govern the planning calendar, setting clear priorities and milestones across functions.
• Institutionalize scalable methodologies that support SKU growth, omnichannel expansion, and margin optimization.
• Shape category-level plans to maximize revenue, improve sell-through, and achieve profitability targets.
• Demand Forecasting & Inventory Management
• Oversee the planning team’s forecasting discipline, integrating POS data, market trends, and wholesale insights into a repeatable framework.
• Command inventory strategies that balance agility with rigor, supporting rapid business growth.
• Continuously monitor and remediate inventory health issues across categories and channels, protecting both top-line sales and margin.
• Spearhead predictive modeling to anticipate customer demand and inform proactive decision-making.
• Wholesale Account Planning
• Serve as a trusted partner and thought leader to senior wholesale merchant teams, influencing buy strategies and financial objectives.
• Collaborate and negotiate with wholesale partners to align on shipping windows, replenishment needs, and sell-through expectations.
• Champion fulfillment excellence to meet or exceed retailer performance standards.
• Price & Promotion Optimization
• Own, track, and deliver channel-level financial targets (sales, margin, turn, WOS), reporting directly to the executive team.
• Translate financial objectives into actionable guardrails that direct category and SKU-level execution.
• Craft and execute pricing and markdown strategies that balance competitive positioning with profitability.
• Shape cross-functional promotional strategies, ensuring initiatives drive demand without sacrificing margin.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Position planning as a strategic voice in leadership discussions, influencing Merchandising, Supply Chain, eCommerce, and Operations.
• Champion end-to-end product flow, ensuring on-time and optimized delivery from planning through execution.
• Own and be accountable for financial planning metrics at the channel and company level.
• Analyze, interpret, and present KPI insights, offering strategic recommendations to maximize revenue, inventory efficiency, and margin.
• Shape investment decisions by providing senior leadership with forward-looking insights and scenario planning.
• Systems & Process Optimization
• Spearhead the selection, implementation, and evolution of planning tools and systems, introducing best-in-class practices.
• Establish process rigor that elevates planning as a strategic enabler of growth.
• Leverage analytics and technology to improve forecasting accuracy, operational efficiency, and cross-channel execution.
• Leadership & Team Development
• Build, lead, and inspire the planning organization, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor talent, providing clear growth pathways.
• Set and uphold standards in analysis, reporting, and cross-functional communication that elevate the broader merchandising organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in planning, with proven success leading and scaling a planning organization across DTC and wholesale channels.
• Demonstrated expertise in planning cycles, demand forecasting, inventory management, financial planning, and supply chain (retail, apparel, or e-commerce strongly preferred).
• Influential communicator with credibility to engage senior executives and external partners.
• Proficiency with planning/forecasting tools, ERP systems, and data analytics platforms.
• Passionate about e-commerce, customer experience, and delivering high-quality products customers love.

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Strategy/Planning
• Supply Chain
• Sales

Industries

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• Apparel Manufacturing

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