Planning Manager

Overview

LESET is recruiting a Planning Manager to collaborate closely with the Director of Merchandising & Planning as the company expands its footprint across ecommerce, retail, and wholesale channels. This role suits an individual who is both strategic and hands-on, eager to influence growth by forecasting demand, managing inventory investments, identifying business opportunities, and ensuring products are optimally placed.

As a cross-functional partner working with Merchandising, Design, Production, Retail, Operations, and Finance, the Planning Manager will directly influence key business decisions including seasonal fabric purchases, inventory allocations, and store replenishments. This position requires a proactive, analytical professional adept in Excel and driven by data-informed planning to develop scalable planning processes while executing daily operational needs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Forecast and oversee LESET's core business performance focusing on carryover and evergreen styles with an omni-channel perspective.
• Create recut forecasts and recommendations reflecting sales trends, inventory levels, and demand to optimize the assortment.
• Work closely with Production and Development teams to facilitate timely recut execution.
• Monitor inventory productivity and guide investments to sustain long-term growth.
• Manage retail inventory planning and replenishment across store locations.
• Formulate allocation plans that enhance sales productivity while maintaining balanced inventory levels.
• Evaluate store-level sales performance, inventory health, and turnover rates, recommending stock transfers and adjustments between retail and ecommerce platforms.
• Collaborate with Retail leadership to align inventory strategies with store expansion and evolving demands.
• Conduct sizing analysis and present seasonal buy plans by location to leadership.
• Partner with Production, Development, and Merchandising teams to forecast seasonal fabric requirements and monitor utilization.
• Align fabric and inventory procurement with sales forecasts, margin targets, and strategic goals.
• Develop, update, and analyze seasonal, monthly, and annual direct-to-consumer sales, inventory, and margin projections.
• Provide comprehensive omni-channel reporting with actionable insights to inform cross-functional decision-making.
• Lead the company-wide average time in stock (ATS) forecasting.
• Identify and implement process improvements in reporting, forecasting, and inventory planning, utilizing advanced tools and emerging technologies.

Qualifications

• Between 4 to 8+ years of experience in planning, inventory management, or merchandise planning within apparel, fashion, or retail sectors.
• Proficient knowledge of forecasting, replenishment, allocation, and inventory management concepts.
• Experience across multiple channels including ecommerce, retail, and wholesale preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills paired with strong analytical abilities.
• Exceptional organizational capabilities with attention to detail and a capacity to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for cross-functional engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into practical business recommendations.
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude, initiative-driven, and committed to continuous business improvement.