Planning Manager

OVERVIEW:

As a Planning Manager, you are at the heart of shaping the financial strategy for an entire gender across multiple product categories. You don’t just manage numbers, you drive the success of the business by balancing current sales trends, inventory insights, and ambitious financial goals with a keen eye on what's next. In close partnership with your Merchandising counterpart, you forecast future product performance, analyse in-season results, and build strategies that guide product flow across channels and regions.

But this role is more than just financial planning, it’s about team empowerment. You manage the company’s largest financial asset: our product inventory for NAM. And with that comes the responsibility to lead and inspire a high-performing team. You’re someone who brings out the best in others, coaching, developing, and nurturing talent to grow both their potential and their impact on the business.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as you collaborate cross-functionally and influence partners at all levels. You create clarity through complexity and empower others through your vision, insight, and inclusive mentorship. If you're a strategic thinker with a passion for people and product and you're motivated by driving results through others...this role is where you can truly make your mark

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

PRESEASON

• Build preseason sales, margin, and inventory plans across gender, category, and style/color levels.

• Analyse past performance to identify growth drivers and missed opportunities.

• Evaluate and summarize product plan risk and opportunity based on trend and key financials (IMU, AUR, AUC, net margin £/$ and rate).

• Present financial strategy and insights at key Commercial Process Milestones.

• Recommend optimal style and color count, product flow, and category investment to drive margin and seasonal productivity.

• Partner with the Head of Planning to define and communicate strategies for growth, maintenance, or decline categories based on trends and historical data.

 

IN SEASON

• Monitor and report weekly business performance vs. forecast, identifying key trends and variances.

• Flag risks and opportunities early; recommend actions to optimize current and future quarter results.

• Lead monthly OTB forecasting with updated sales, margin, and inventory projections in partnership with the Head of Planning.

• Provide forward-looking insights, validate stock-to-sales ratios, and identify opportunities to maximize in-season performance.

• Manage receipt flow to improve turn, reconcile receipts, and drive pricing strategies for profitability.

• Track core style trends and align with Merchandising on inventory flow.

• Ensure accurate in-store allocations by style, color, and size, maintaining optimal weeks of supply.

• Build weekly style-level sales plans to track performance vs. forecast.

• Partner with Head of Planning on markdown and promo strategies, delivering pricing and margin impact scenarios.

  

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Please note this is a hybrid role partially based in our New York City office. All candidates must be local or willing to relocate. You must also be authorized to work in the United States. 

• Previous experience in merchandise planning, allocation, merchandising, financial planning, strategy or business analytics 

• Strong analytical, financial modeling and problem-solving skills 

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills 

• Ability to manage multiple work streams/projects with tight deadlines 

• Strong technical aptitude, including advanced competency in Microsoft Excel and ability to quickly master new applications and systems 

 

Preferred Skills & experience: 

• Experience in activewear apparel planning  

• Experience working internationally, across multiple currency types  

• Experience working on multiple apparel product categories 

• A love of the Gym and living an active lifestyle 

 

SALARY RANGE

This role has a salary range between $127'000 - $140'000. The base pay offered is based on market, experience, and skills.