Planner/Allocator - Dallas/Ft Worth

Lori's Gifts; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Awesome discounts

Fun work environment

Health insurance

401K plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Lori’s Gifts is seeking a Planner/Allocator to manage inventory levels, analyze historic data, and process purchase orders to meet store requirements. This role supports the replenishment function and works with Buyers on supplier relationships.

Remote role with limited in-person Plano office meetings; 1–2 days per month required in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Strong Excel skills and backend retail system knowledge are preferred.

Qualifications

• Associates or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with multi-store retail and fast-paced environments.
• Strong analytical and communication skills with ability to forecast.
• Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables and V-Lookups.
• Familiarity with backend retail systems and POS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Source and follow up with suppliers to ensure data accuracy and scheduling.
• Conduct product allocations under direction of Buyer.
• Address field requests including shipment issues and pricing concerns.
• Perform category reviews to ensure consistency in pricing and store assignments.
• Meet with suppliers and coordinate with Buyers on projected orders.
• Handle ad hoc reporting and purchasing needs for Suppliers and Buyers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Forecasting

Multi-store retail experience

Education

Associates or Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Mi9 Retail software

AiFi

Just Walk Out by Amazon

Microsoft Office

Excel (Pivot Tables, V-Lookups)

Job description

The Planner/Allocator is responsible for maintaining proper inventory levels for an organization. Works with detailed historic reports to determine order quantities, process new purchase orders, and amend generated orders to meet requirements. Being a Planner/Allocator assists with inventory control management activities including implementing process enhancements to streamline the replenishment function. Assists buyers with vendor meetings and assorted selections. Additionally, Planner/Allocator may track purchase orders and deal with delivery and stock issues.. The Planner/Allocator gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work.

This position is remote with limited requirement for in-person meetings at our Plano headquarters. Must be within the Dallas Fort Worth area. Reliable high-speed internet/WIFI required.

WHAT YOU WILL DO (Responsibilities)

You are a self-motivated person with analytical perspective. You have the communication and listening skills that work well with limited supervision. You have a core understanding of the buying process and procurement/supply chain function.

The Planner/Allocator will also:

• Source and follow-up with suppliers on Item Setup Data to ensure accuracy and scheduling - process for Buyer review
• Conduct product allocations (under the direction of the Buyer)
• Respond to specific field request fulfillment including vetted product requests, handling shipment issues, cost and retail issues, etc
• Ensure consistencies in pricing strategy, category assignment and store assignments by conducting category reviews
• Meet with suppliers and partner with Buyer and department to ensure follow-up on projected orders
• Handle adhoc reporting and purchasing needs for suppliers and the Buyers as needed
• Other job-related duties as assigned

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR (Requirements):

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience with multi-store retail
• Solid communication skills with strong critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
• Highly analytical and able to review sales and forecast
• Advanced Excel skills to include pivot tables and v-Lookups
• Proficient in Microsoft Office in general (including Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot)
• Knowledge in backend retail management system and point-of-sale system (Mi9 Retail, AiFi, Just Walk Out by Amazon, etc.)
• This position is remote with 1-2 days per month (on average) required at our Plano office for team meetings, training, preparation for special events, etc.

Who Are We

We are the heart of the hospital experience. Our guests visit our store locations for different experiences while visiting loved ones in the hospital, or between breaks while at work. Lori’s Gifts is a unique retailer servicing over 250 hospitals nationwide for decades. We continue to grow because of our compassionate employees that remain close to the positive hospital relationships we have developed in the communities we serve.

Why You’ll Love To Work Here

• Flexible Hours
• Awesome Discounts
• Fun work environment
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance and 401K plan (Full Time Employees)
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays (Full-Time Employees)
• Opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed with a leading retailer!

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer - and celebrate our employees' differences, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or Veteran status. Different makes us better.