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 Summary: 

The Planning Manager will play a critical role on the Wholesale Planning team by driving financial planning, margin optimization, and inventory management across a portfolio of accounts and licensed brands. This role is responsible for both in-season tactical analysis—tracking monthly shipments, sales trends, and profitability—as well as long-range strategic planning at the account/brand level. In addition, the Planning Manager will oversee open-to-buy (OTB) management, production buy approvals, reporting, and hindsight analysis to ensure alignment between sales forecasts, margin targets, and inventory investments. This position requires strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.

 

Job Responsibilities: 

Sales & Margin Planning

• Build, manage, and maintain financial plans at the account/brand level, including sales, margin, and unit projections.
• Conduct monthly in-season analysis of shipments, sales performance, margin drivers, and customer profitability.
• Deliver financial recaps and insights to leadership, highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommendations for action.
• Partner with Sales, Production, and Operations to align forecasts and develop proactive strategies to meet budget objectives.
• Support long-range strategic planning by incorporating market trends, competitive insights, and brand initiatives.
• Lead seasonal planning and forecasting cycles, including pre-season gross sales planning and margin target setting.
• Conduct scenario planning and sensitivity analyses to inform decision-making and optimize profitability.

Inventory Control & OTB Management

• Own the OTB process across assigned accounts and brands; ensure inventory commitments align with sales and margin goals.
• Approve all production buys, validating demand assumptions, order timing, and inventory risk.
• Partner with Production and Sales to balance supply/demand and ensure timely delivery to customers.
• Track inventory positions weekly and provide visibility into liabilities, opportunities, and aging stock.
• Develop mitigation strategies for excess, slow-moving, or at-risk inventory.
• Drive reporting and dashboards that enhance transparency across inventory and OTB metrics.

Reporting, Analysis & Business Insights

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting packages for leadership, distilling complex data into clear, actionable takeaways.
• Lead post-season hindsight analyses to evaluate performance versus plan, identify learnings, and inform future strategies.
• Create standardized reports and tools that streamline planning processes and enhance team productivity.
• Track performance at multiple levels—program, account, and brand—ensuring visibility into profitability drivers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the planning lead with Sales, Production, and Finance, ensuring open communication and alignment on priorities.
• Provide insights and recommendations to Sales partners to support customer negotiations and account strategies.
• Collaborate with Production to manage commitments and ensure buys align with financial goals.
• Serve as a key partner in corporate initiatives, system enhancements, and process improvement projects.

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.• 5–7 years of experience in merchandise planning, wholesale planning, or retail financial planning.• Strong analytical and financial acumen with proven ability to synthesize data into actionable insights.• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP or other enterprise planning tools strongly preferred.• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorit