Inventory Planner

The Lacoste Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lacoste Group is seeking an experienced Inventory Planner to join the Lacoste USA Outlet team in New York. This role involves overseeing inventory and allocation processes, ensuring products are available in the right quantities to meet business needs.

Candidates should have a strong background in inventory management and reporting, and be able to develop key allocation strategies. The position requires collaboration with various teams to optimize stock efficiency and profitability.

Qualifications

• Strong background in inventory forecasting and analysis.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in reporting tools and methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee inventory, allocation, and replenishment processes.
• Enhance reporting and dashboards for inventory management.
• Monitor stock levels and market trends for allocation planning.

Skills

Inventory management

Budget planning

Reporting and data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Merchandise planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Inventory management software

Excel

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Inventory Planner to join the Lacoste USA Outlet team. In this role, you will oversee the inventory, allocation and replenishment of our seasonal, basic, and transfer assortment, ensuring that the right products are available in the right quantities, at the right time, to support business objectives and customer needs. The Inventory Planner will work closely with the merchandise planning team, buying and Outlet business leads to maximize stock efficiencies by crafting the total allocation needs for the business. They also need to ensure proper inventory management between the 3PL’s with optimization of stock to maximize sales.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Responsible and accountable for the inventory forecast (inbound and outbound), inventory analysis and budget planning in close partnership with the Planning, Operations, Finance, and Merchandising teams.
• Design, produce, and enhance reporting, dashboards, and tools for cross‑functional team pertaining to inventory and allocation, identifying opportunities for standardization and automation of processes and leveraging best practices from cross‑functional and global teams.
• Create and maintain all allocation reporting including, but not limited to: Sales to Stock, Allocation recaps, Store Capacity report, In‑bound tracker, high turn styles, core replenishment, MOH etc.
• Monitor stock levels, sales performance, historical data, market leader feedback and emerging trends to drive allocation plans at weekly level leading up to a rolling forecast for 3PL’s.
• Maximize and identify inventory opportunities through transfers within channels and across regions, including 3rd party sell‑offs.
• Seasonally develop key allocation strategies and approaches to the business that will help drive sell‑through and top‑side sales by partnering closely with Regional Directors, Merchandise Planning, and Buying team.
• Partner with planning to maximize pricing and promo strategy to maximize gross and net margin.
• Partner closely with the 3PL team – Logistics/Operations and Order Fulfillment to streamline the allocation function to maximize efficiency and profitability.
• Responsible for all special project allocations including collaborations, events, and new store openings.
• Complete initial and replenishment allocations as needed.