Manager, Planning

Centric Brands; New York (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits plan

401(k) matching

Generous PTO

Merchandise discounts

Career development opportunities

Volunteerism opportunities

Job summary

A leading lifestyle brand collective is seeking a dynamic Senior Planner in New York City. You will work closely with the Vice President of Planning to analyze and strategize profitable business growth. Key responsibilities include creating sales reports, leading discussions on business drivers, and developing financial SKU plans. Candidates should have 3-5 years of experience in retail planning and strong analytical skills. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in retail planning, inventory management, or related roles.
• Ability to process large datasets to derive insights.

Responsibilities

• Create and distribute weekly reports on sales and inventory performance.
• Lead discussions on business drivers and delivery performance with Sales partners.
• Monitor actual performance against forecasts and adjust financial metrics monthly.
• Collaborate with the sales team to aggregate account forecasts.

Skills

Advanced Excel skills

Experience with Department Stores (e.g., Macy's)

Knowledge of ERP and database systems

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration skills

Problem-solving skills

Job description

About Us

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Planner to join our team. In this key position, you will partner side‑by‑side with our Vice President of Planning and Sales team to analyze, plan and strategize for profitable business growth to ensure our company meets and exceeds its financial goals and business objectives. In this key position, you will lead various aspects of planning and strategy, implementing both top‑down and bottom‑up approaches. The ideal candidate is data‑driven, thrives in a fast‑paced environment, and has a deep understanding of merchandise, retail, and inventory planning. If you are ready to take on a pivotal role in our organization and drive impactful planning strategies, we invite you to apply!

Key Responsibilities

Retail Account Planning & Analysis

• Create and distribute weekly reports and visualizations on sales and inventory performance, including style selling, by door and category performance recaps.
• Engage regularly with account teams to understand and influence open‑to‑buy (OTB) forecasts, identifying category opportunities and risks, and making promotional recommendations.
• Lead discussions on business drivers, delivery performance and promotions with Sales partners on a weekly basis.
• Utilize historical data and current trends to develop actionable plans and build consensus on strategies.
• Support the market process by preparing projections with an updated business review including challenge and opportunity bullets. Create assortment targets by account in alignment with the Merchandise Planning responsibilities of the role. Actualize fashion buy placements by class vs LY.
• Manage financial flows to understand sales, stock and markdown positions and to monitor vendor allowances to uphold pre‑set or in‑season agreements.
• Deliver receipt proposals to drive sales for contingency or stretch plans, build and execute category ladder plans to illustrate product and business needs.
• Create seasonal hindsight reports and be prepared to discuss findings and future recommendations.
• Monitor vendor allowances to uphold pre‑set or in‑season agreements.
• Ad‑Hoc projects in response to business needs.

Retail Merchandise Planning

• Partner with cross‑functional teams to analyze historical performance and identify needs for new product introductions to achieve targets.
• Develop merchandise financial SKU plans that help drive product line development and meet financial objectives.
• Set seasonal sales and margin goals, reconciling forecasts from both top‑down and bottom‑up perspectives before finalization.
• Participate in product reviews with sales, merchandising, and design teams to ensure alignment with detailed plans.
• Secure management consensus on assortment buy‑levels and margins for final buy approval.

Sales, Margin, and Inventory Planning

• Collaborate with the sales team to aggregate account forecasts into comprehensive 12‑month revenue and margin plans.
• Monitor actual performance against forecasts, making monthly adjustments to key financial metrics based on sales insights and order updates.
• Clearly communicate variances, providing supporting details, versus budget and previous projection, also noting opportunities and risks.
• Ensure alignment between sales and buy levels at all checkpoints.

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to process large datasets to derive insights.
• Past experience having worked with Department Stores, in particular Macy’s.
• Knowledge of ERP and database systems.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with cross‑functional teams and management.
• 3‑5 years of experience in retail planning, inventory management, or related roles.

Compensation and Benefits

In return, we provide an industry‑competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands through workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note that Centric Brands will only reach out to interview, make an offer of employment or conduct onboarding activities for candidates who have applied through our careers site. When interviewing for a position, the candidate experience will include live interaction, such as a video conference or telephone call, with a Recruiter and/or company employee(s). We will never ask for any money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. Be aware of suspicious recruitment activity. If you think you are a victim of an employment scam, you may contact your local law enforcement agency and/or visit the Federal Trade Commission website here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams .