Senior Director, Assortment Planning & Modeling

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Assortment Planning & Modeling is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise assortment strategy across all channels, categories, and customer segments while leading the transformation from traditional planning methodologies to AI-powered decision-making. This leader owns the development of advanced assortment optimization capabilities, predictive modeling, machine learning applications, and AI-driven decision support tools that improve inventory productivity, customer satisfaction, sales growth, and profitability. The role serves as the strategic bridge between Merchandising, Inventory Planning & Replenishment, Data Science, Supply Chain, Finance, and Technology to ensure product assortments are continuously optimized through intelligent automation, predictive analytics and scalable governance frameworks.

The Senior Director will lead and develop a high-performing team focused on building next-generation capabilities that enable the organization to place the right products in the right locations at the right time with minimal manual intervention.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Assortment Strategy

• Develop and execute the long-term enterprise assortment strategy.
• category-specific assortment frameworks across all product lines.
• Establish localized assortment strategies based on customer, vehicle, demographic, and market demand characteristics
• Lead SKU rationalization initiatives to improve inventory productivity and profitability.
• Develop lifecycle management processes for new item introductions, product substitutions, supersessions, and obsolescence.
• Partner with Merchandising leadership to align assortment decisions with enterprise growth objectives.

Advanced Analytics & Optimization

• Leverage predictive modeling, machine learning, and optimization techniques to improve assortment decisions and inventory placement.
• Develop analytical models that identify assortment gaps, duplication, cannibalization, and expansion opportunities.
• Implement data-driven frameworks that anticipate customer demand shifts and emerging market trends.
• Enable intelligent recommendation engines that support planners with scalable, explainable decision support.
• Drive autonomous assortment recommendations through advanced optimization engines.
• Establish AI governance processes that ensure explainability, transparency, and trust in automated recommendations.
• Continuously improve algorithm accuracy through feedback loops and performance monitoring.

Advanced Modeling & Data Science

• Lead development of predictive models supporting assortment, demand forecasting, inventory placement, and network optimization.
• Develop customer segmentation models that improve assortment localization.
• Establish digital twins and simulation capabilities to evaluate assortment scenarios before implementation.
• Utilize machine learning techniques to optimize SKU productivity and category performance.
• Build analytical frameworks that quantify the financial impact of assortment decisions.
• Partner with technology teams to operationalize advanced models into business workflows.

Intelligent Systems Transformation Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap of assortment planning  through analytics and intelligent automation.
• Drive organizational change management and adoption of AI-driven decision-making.
• Transition planning teams from transactional analysis to strategic exception management.
• Establish governance processes that balance automation with human oversight.
• Build organizational capability around AI literacy and advanced analytics.
• Create a culture that embraces experimentation, continuous learning, and innovation.

Network & Market Optimization

• Define assortment strategies by distribution center, market, store cluster, customer segment, and channel.
• Optimize inventory placement across the supply chain network.
• Identify opportunities to improve fill rates while reducing inventory investment.
• Develop market-specific assortment strategies that maximize customer relevance.
• Utilize predictive analytics to improve inventory productivity across all stocking locations.

Financial & Performance Management

• Own assortment-related financial performance metrics.
• Establish productivity targets for assortment optimization initiatives.
• Quantify and track benefits generated from AI and advanced analytics investments.
• Develop executive-level reporting and KPI dashboards.
• Ensure assortment decisions support revenue growth, margin expansion, inventory turns, and cash