E-commerce, Retail, Consumer Goods

Associate Merchandise Planner

New YorkHybridFull TimePosted 1 month ago

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Required skills

inventory planning
forecasting
ladder plans
SKU-level forecasting
Excel
DTC brands
allocation
distribution
ERP

Nice to have

financial modeling
inventory optimization
Logistics

Role summary

Seeking an Associate Planner for an Ecomm role focused on inventory planning for high-growth products. Responsibilities include forecasting inventory needs, optimizing on-order and on-hand stock, developing ladder plans for SKU-level forecasting, and managing purchase orders. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams (Merchandising, Operations, Marketing, Finance) and Commercial Planners to support various distribution channels. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of experience in inventory planning at fast-growing DTC brands, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel and forecasting. This is a hybrid role based in Brooklyn, requiring 3 days in the office.

About the Role:

We are seeking an Associate Planner to support inventory planning within our fast-growing, ecommerce channel. This role will be responsible for forecasting inventory needs for the highest growth subset of the product portfolio, balancing on-order and on-hand inventory to optimize sales and margin. This role will also work closely with Commercial Planners to support wholesale, international, specialty bulk orders, and other distribution channels.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical and detail-oriented with experience at fast-growing DTC brands, and adept at ladder plans for SKU-level forecasting.

Core Responsibilities

Inventory Planning

Develop inventory forecasts in partnership with cross-functional teams, incorporating sales trends, product launches, product lifecycles, and promotional plans to inform purchasing and financial planning.

Maintain and optimize ladder plans, enabling daily thru annual sales and receipt unit needs at the SKU level.

Deliver buys to Production for on-time PO placement, and collaborate to manage on-order pipelines to ensure balanced inventory levels and timely demand fulfillment.

Monitor inventory levels and recommend replenishment strategies to maximize availability and reduce stockouts or overstocking.

Identify risks and opportunities in inventory and recommend actions to support business growth.

Allocation & Distribution

Partner with the Director of Ecomm Planning to balance virtual warehouse inventory strategies to support flexibility in fulfillment.

Partner with Logistics and Operations teams to ensure accurate distribution and inventory visibility across the network.

Partner with Commercial channel planners to allocate inventory across ecommerce, wholesale, international, specialty, and bulk channels based on demand forecasts and sales priorities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Merchandising, Operations, Production, Marketing and Finance teams to align inventory strategies with assortment plans, sales goals, and margin objectives.

Provide weekly and monthly reporting on inventory health and forecast accuracy.

This is a hybrid role, reporting to the Director of Planning & Allocation (Ecomm). You’ll be based in our office 3 days per week in Brooklyn.

Qualifications

2+ years of inventory planning, allocation, or related roles at fast-growing DTC brands

Strong track record with ladder plans.

Proficiency in forecasting, financial modeling, and inventory optimization; advanced Excel skills required, ERP experience a plus.

Excellent cross-functional communication and problem-solving skills

Ability to balance data-driven decisions with brand priorities.

What We Offer:

Competitive base salary and annual bonus based on company and individual performance

21 days paid vacation + all federal holidays

Full health benefits (health, dental, vision, mental)

16 weeks paid birth parent leave; 8 weeks non-birth parent leave

55% off Lola Blankets for friends and family

Opportunities for career growth within Lola Blankets

Ready to apply?

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