The Children’s Place Hiring for MANAGER, BASICS at Secaucus, New Jersey Full Time

 The Inventory Planning Manager will drive business results in multiple divisions of business by ensuring inventory is best positioned to drive sales. This will be accomplished through partnership with Merchandising and Planning partners, analyzing business at the Category and Store level, rolling up insight gained from Inventory Planning team, managing JDA Allocation inputs and developing a strong team of Inventory Planners.
This leader will oversee the continuous improvement in the department through forecasts and analyses, while reviewing and managing allocations. This leader will be responsible for season preparation and reviewing forecast and inventory exceptions. This position will develop strategies for significant changes between years and other key metrics that will drive allocation decisions. This leader will partner with leadership of Merchandising and Planning to align on key strategies and continuously revise priorities or work-streams as needed.

Responsibilities:

Key Accountabilities:

• Align with cross-functional partners around seasonal strategy (e.g., big ideas, category changes, and flow timing)
• Ensure, with planning, that programs, science, drivers, and inputs are correct as an input into rationalization of top line buy strategy
• Lead and perform analysis of allocation impacts to execute fleet review, assess seasonality, and define store groups
• Align with cross-functional partners around initial allocations (e.g., visual presentation, Merchandising, Planning, Store Communications)
• Adjust and reconcile weekly planned inventory position at total division level based on sales, inventory, price action, and trend
• Review weekly allocation targets with Inventory Planners(s) and initiate division roll up to share with Allocation leadership; communicate risks and opportunities
• Monitor progress against allocation targets and partner with Inventory Planners(s) to mitigate risks
• Cascade cross-functional strategy changes that will impact allocation decisions
• Align weekly with Supply Chain and Store Operations partners around inbound/outbound allocations
• Evaluate inventory position at a Category level to identify recommendations and risks
• Participate in Weekly Business Review to highlight inventory concerns, opportunities, and recommendations around strategy changes
• Align bi-weekly with Planning and Merchandising leadership around top-down inventory and exit strategies
• Provide visual with quarterly views on inventory levels for key programs based on High/Mid/Low analysis
• Provide Hindsight / Key Learnings to Merchant and Planning partners to help inform buy quantities for next year
• Partner with Inventory Planners(s) to review style level assortment recommendations (based on stores, trends, inventory) and align on approach to inform and influence cross-functional partners
• Articulate weekly priorities and strategy shifts to Inventory Planners(s) and ensure execution
• Partner with RVPs to understand specific store needs, build out custom strategies and execution to desired result
• Consolidate Inventory Planner(s) insights around product and store attributes to create meaningful recommendations around future buys to share with cross-functional partners
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement of business processes and efficiencies
• Provide coaching and guidance to Inventory Planner(s) around priorities and how to effectively utilize the key allocation processes and tools
• Monitor the development and performance of direct reports through regular meetings to discuss performance and development compared to goals and provide coaching

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in related role

Skills and Behaviors

• Ability to develop strategies driving allocation and replenishment decision making
• Strong data analysis skills; ability to identify critical trends, patterns, and root causes
• High level of comfort using technology and custom tools
• Strong knowledge of retail market, including nuance of high volume/low AUR/vertical specialty retailing
• Proficiency in Cognos or other BI tools/data sources
• Knowledge of inventory life-cycle
• Strong sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Good leadership skills and ability to provide clear direction and accountabilities
• Ability to work under pressure and through setbacks
• Ability to work with and build relationships with all levels of the organization
• Strong verbal and written communication skills