Clarks · 1 day ago
Inventory Planner
Needham, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid Level
$53K/yr - $65K/yrClarks is seeking an Inventory Planner who will collaborate with Wholesale and Retail Planning teams to support demand forecasts and create a supply forecast. The role involves maintaining inventory systems, analyzing historical data, and executing purchase orders to ensure optimal inventory levels while aligning with company strategies.
ApparelE-CommerceMen'sShoesWomen's
Responsibilities
Collaborate with Wholesale and Retail Planning teams to support demand forecasts and create a supply forecast that fits within company receipt budget and factory capacities while considering factory lead-time
Maintain Demand Manager Planning System consensus forecast at an article level which sends time phased Available to Promise signal to Customer Service and a Factory Purchase Plan signal to Supply Chain
Analyze historical inventory cycles and distribution channels
Adapt and react to market trends during each biweekly forecast/purchasing cycle
Review demand forecast reports at account and channel distribution levels
Deliver to Supply Planning monthly factory purchase plans for current buying season that fit within factory capacity and targeted receipt plans
Support new ideas, processes, and be open to change as we find better ways to reduce inventory while still servicing our customers and aligning to company receipt plans
Share best practices and communicate information as needed
Responsible for executing monthly factory purchase order placement including:
Creating monthly purchase orders and managing SKU profiles
Analyzing customer orders at the SKU level to ensure proper inventory balance and agreement with the consensus forecast
Plan and execute Direct Ship PO process in collaboration with customer service and supply planning
Bundle by factory, container minimums and account transit times
Support pre‑season planning by maintaining time‑phased, program‑level inventory placeholders
Develop historical, time‑phased demand plans within the Demand Planning System to support seasonal Assortment Plan targets and inform preliminary capacity requirements for Supply Planning
Partner cross‑functionally in weekly supply reviews with Supply Planning, Demand Allocation, and Inventory Planning teams to identify and address demand‑supply mismatches and drive continuous improvement
Monitor in season available inventory to ensure targeted stock and replenishment styles reflect correct available picture in SAP, while working with cross functional teams to trouble shoot CTP pictures
Responsible for ensuring the integrity of the data in the system including buffer stock setting, color/size/width profiles, planning, forecasting, and product life cycle flags to support seasonal assortment plans
Qualification
Required
Experience in footwear demand and supply planning, merchandising, buying
Knowledge of different business operating models – Retail, Franchise, Factory, MCR, Wholesale
Successful Demand and Supply Planning, Buying, and Merchandising experience
Experience in key distribution channels – wholesale, retail, franchise and digital
Understanding of overall business operations and supply chains
Strong organizational skills to coordinate feedback from a variety of sources
Practical understanding of demand planning and inventory management processes
Strong computer skills including the following tools: Advanced Microsoft Excel (statements, linking, pivot tables, etc.), Data warehouse/data mart query and report development tools
Ability to analyze trends and use that information to effectively plan and forecast
Strong analytical and verbal skills
Strong decision-making skills
Demonstrated expertise in planning systems and analytics platforms (SAP, Demand Manager, MFP, Business Objects, Power BI, D360)
Commercial Awareness
Analytical/ highly numerate and able to identify key information
Ability to problem solve and manage conflict situations
Excellent interpersonal and motivational skills
Team player, goal oriented
Ability to analyze, interpret and act on market intelligence
Commercial skills to maximize opportunities that arise
Communication
Customer Focus
Effective Decision Making
Delivering Results
Planning and Organizing
Numerical Skills
Analytical ability to disseminate information
Company
Clarks
Clarks sells shoes and accessories.
Founded in 1825
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Jonathan Ram
Chief Executive Officer
Tara McRae
Global Chief Marketing & Digital Officer
Recent News
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