Gigs Recruiting, LLC
Sr. Manager Demand & Inventory Planning
Gigs Recruiting, LLC, Rochester, New York, United States, 14600
We are seeking a results-driven
Senior Manager of Demand and Inventory Planning
to lead end-to-end forecasting, demand planning, replenishment, and inventory optimization across our retail network of 1,100+ stores. This role is critical in aligning inventory strategies with customer demand and financial goals to improve product availability, reduce risk, and maximize GMROI and profitability.
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong analytical capabilities, leadership experience, and a deep understanding of retail inventory management. You'll collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and supplier partners to ensure optimal inventory health at the SKU-location level, while leading a high-performing, data-driven planning team.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Lead the organization's demand planning process across all product categories. Facilitate monthly forecast collaboration sessions with key suppliers and distributors to ensure supply chain alignment. Develop and maintain statistical forecasting models that incorporate trends, promotions, seasonality, and product lifecycle. Track and improve forecast accuracy through ongoing performance analysis and root cause corrections. Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and sales/financial targets. Deliver rolling 12-month purchase and inventory forecasts to internal teams and supplier partners. Inventory Planning & Optimization
Develop inventory strategies to achieve targeted service levels, inventory turnover, and profitability. Manage item-level replenishment and safety stock parameters; dynamically adjust based on performance and risk. Identify and mitigate risks related to excess, obsolete, or misallocated inventory. Drive initiatives for inventory rebalancing, returns, and repositioning to improve efficiency and reduce carrying costs. Analytics & Reporting
Build and manage dashboards and KPI reports to track forecast accuracy, inventory health, supplier performance, and in-stock rates. Provide data-driven insights to inform decision-making at all levels of the organization. Ensure supplier and distributor reporting is timely and accurate; collaborate on strategies to mitigate supply risk. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as the strategic link between merchandising, supply chain, finance, and store operations. Support and lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align business priorities. Work closely with Category Managers and internal stakeholders to support product lifecycle planning and promotional readiness. Team Leadership & Development
Lead and mentor a team of Purchasing and Replenishment Specialists across both onshore and offshore locations. Drive a high-performance culture centered on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Provide coaching, performance feedback, and career development support to team members. Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, or a related field required; MBA or APICS certification preferred. 6+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, inventory management, or supply chain analytics, ideally in a retail or wholesale environment. Skills & Knowledge
Proficient with forecasting and ERP systems; experience with statistical modeling preferred. Advanced Excel skills; experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools for data visualization and analysis. Proven ability to drive improvements in service levels, inventory efficiency, and planning accuracy. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Experience managing both local and remote/offshore teams effectively. Ability to create compelling, data-backed business cases and present to senior leadership.
Posted On:
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Senior Manager of Demand and Inventory Planning
to lead end-to-end forecasting, demand planning, replenishment, and inventory optimization across our retail network of 1,100+ stores. This role is critical in aligning inventory strategies with customer demand and financial goals to improve product availability, reduce risk, and maximize GMROI and profitability.
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong analytical capabilities, leadership experience, and a deep understanding of retail inventory management. You'll collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and supplier partners to ensure optimal inventory health at the SKU-location level, while leading a high-performing, data-driven planning team.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Lead the organization's demand planning process across all product categories. Facilitate monthly forecast collaboration sessions with key suppliers and distributors to ensure supply chain alignment. Develop and maintain statistical forecasting models that incorporate trends, promotions, seasonality, and product lifecycle. Track and improve forecast accuracy through ongoing performance analysis and root cause corrections. Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and sales/financial targets. Deliver rolling 12-month purchase and inventory forecasts to internal teams and supplier partners. Inventory Planning & Optimization
Develop inventory strategies to achieve targeted service levels, inventory turnover, and profitability. Manage item-level replenishment and safety stock parameters; dynamically adjust based on performance and risk. Identify and mitigate risks related to excess, obsolete, or misallocated inventory. Drive initiatives for inventory rebalancing, returns, and repositioning to improve efficiency and reduce carrying costs. Analytics & Reporting
Build and manage dashboards and KPI reports to track forecast accuracy, inventory health, supplier performance, and in-stock rates. Provide data-driven insights to inform decision-making at all levels of the organization. Ensure supplier and distributor reporting is timely and accurate; collaborate on strategies to mitigate supply risk. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as the strategic link between merchandising, supply chain, finance, and store operations. Support and lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align business priorities. Work closely with Category Managers and internal stakeholders to support product lifecycle planning and promotional readiness. Team Leadership & Development
Lead and mentor a team of Purchasing and Replenishment Specialists across both onshore and offshore locations. Drive a high-performance culture centered on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Provide coaching, performance feedback, and career development support to team members. Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, or a related field required; MBA or APICS certification preferred. 6+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, inventory management, or supply chain analytics, ideally in a retail or wholesale environment. Skills & Knowledge
Proficient with forecasting and ERP systems; experience with statistical modeling preferred. Advanced Excel skills; experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools for data visualization and analysis. Proven ability to drive improvements in service levels, inventory efficiency, and planning accuracy. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Experience managing both local and remote/offshore teams effectively. Ability to create compelling, data-backed business cases and present to senior leadership.
Posted On:
Wednesday, August 6, 2025