Manager, Planning

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.

 

Specific Responsibilities Would Include

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Planning Manager to join our team. In this key position, you will partner side-by-side with our Sr. Director 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:

 

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.
• Delivering 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.

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.
• 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.
• 8-10 years of experience in retail planning, inventory management, or related roles.

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical,