Allocation Planner

The Allocation Planner owns end-to-end inventory flow from distribution centers to stores across multiple categories, ensuring optimal product deployment and in-store execution. This role partners cross-functionally to drive continuous improvement in business performance through rigorous forecast review and analysis, effective allocation execution within the JDA system, and the development of data-driven store tiering strategies based on sales performance.

The Allocation Planner is responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels across both E-Commerce and store channels, leveraging an omni-channel perspective to balance demand, maximize sales, and improve inventory productivity.

Key Accountabilities:

• Analyze pre-season plans and merchandising strategies to identify meaningful changes versus prior year and assess downstream allocation impact
• Translate top-line buy strategies into actionable store-level allocation plans, optimizing by style, color, and demand patterns
• Proactively identify and execute in-season allocation opportunities across all channels with an omni-channel inventory lens
• Monitor and adjust weekly inventory positions based on sales performance, inventory levels, pricing actions, and emerging trends across both E-Commerce and Stores channels
• Investigate inventory exceptions and forecast variances, conducting root cause analysis to inform corrective actions
• Partner cross-functionally with Merchandising, Planning, and Visual teams to align weekly strategies and execution priorities
• Ensure clarity and alignment across teams on replenishment strategies, new product flows, and key event readiness
• Analyze store-level sales and inventory trends to recommend adjustments to forecasts, assortments, and allocation strategies
• Provide in-season insights on product performance at the style, regional, district, and store level to inform decision-making
• Develop end-of-season analyses to identify store-level inventory and assortment opportunities for future optimization

Allocation Experience

• Significant experience in retail allocation, with allocations representing the majority of previous responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage inventory allocation strategies across multiple stores, channels, or product categories.
• Strong understanding of allocation principles, inventory flow, replenishment, and store-level inventory optimization.
• Experience working within allocation systems such as JDA/Blue Yonder Allocation or similar retail planning tools.

Advanced Excel Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to build and maintain complex calculation tools and reporting files independently.
• Strong knowledge of advanced formulas and functions, including:
• VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP
• INDEX/MATCH
• IF statements and nested formulas
• SUMIFS/COUNTIFS
• Pivot Tables
• Data validation and data analysis techniques
• Experience manipulating large datasets and creating tools to support allocation decision-making.

Retail Math and Analytical Acumen

• Strong understanding of retail math and inventory productivity metrics.
• Experience utilizing and interpreting key metrics including:
• Weeks of Supply (WOS)
• Sell-Through (ST)
• Percent Committed
• Inventory Turnover
• In-Stock Rates
• Sales and Inventory Productivity Measures
• Ability to leverage these metrics to make data-driven allocation recommendations and inventory decisions.