Manager, Demand Planning

Job Summary

The Demand Planning Manager is responsible for forecasting, analysis, assortment planning, and managing inventory levels and will also play a role in collaboration with Category Management and Merchandising on key projects all year around. The Demand Planning Manager will work in achieving planned store inventory levels and the maintenance of merchandise assortments to maximize profitability.

Key Duties Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Forecasting:

• Forecast worldwide and regional, sales by units and value across all product lines, all price point categories (Access, Core & High Jewelry) that are within the Model Stock Assortment Plan.
• Review Forecasted sales weekly versus actual sales and overall budget.
• Adjust consensus forecasts in the GEM planning Module monthly.
• Validate and consolidate regional and local sales forecasts from Allocations Team as well as understand supply chain lead times across all product lines.

Trend Analysis:

• Review worldwide and regional sales trends taking into account global marketing initiatives, global financial climate, and currency and exchange rate fluctuations affecting specific regions, regional tax implications, as well as the impact price increases and decreases.
• Work closely with Allocation team to assess global impact of local events, advertising and client appointments on the sales trend.

Order Placement:

• Review and place monthly replenishment orders. Taking into account latest forecast results, revised forecast and current trend analysis.

Inventory/Production Management:

• Review On Hand versus Model Stock inventory levels and projected Manufacturing scheduled deliveries weekly, monthly, and through the 18 month forecast.
• Make adjustments to sales forecast for products where optimal inventory levels will not be achieved within the planned timeframe.
• Work closely with all facets of the supply chain to ensure deliveries of top selling pieces are prioritized.
• Work with the Supply Chain to assess open capacity and possible uses of this open capacity.

New Product Launches:

• Work closely with Category Management to determine the Model Stock of a new product launch, pricing, and adding the new pieces into the planning system.
• Work with Allocations team to validate local Model Stock and roll up into global MDS and sales forecast.

High-level reporting:

• Create and analyze regional sales reports, salon sales reports, top seller report, color/clarity/finger sizes and any Ad-Hoc reports needed.

Assortment Planning for salons:

• Work with Regional VP/Director to establish the demographics and needs for new openings
• Set and communicate assortment plan
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to ensure floor space is maximized and assortment is displayed to its full potential
• Collaborate with Category Management to remove aged products from the current model stock assortment

Team Management:

• Train and mentor analyst in demand planning methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Collaborate with planning analyst to establish individual and team goals that align with the overall objectives of the department and the organization.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 5 years Planning experience
• Luxury jewelry experience highly desired
• Experience managing, developing and coaching a team
• Strong teamwork and collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Proactive and takes the initiative to drive business and think outside of the box
• Ability to also work independently and remain flexible with changing priorities
• Demonstrates excellent problem solving skills, adaptability/flexibility and initiative
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail/accuracy
• Strong business acumen and sense of organization, priority and efficiency
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Must have advanced technical skills; specifically, with Microsoft Excel (macros, v-lookups, pivot tables, complex formulas, etc.) and in dealing with large data sets.