Senior Manager, Retail Planning and Allocation

Who is Allbirds?

At Allbirds, we believe in using business as a force for good. We’re a global footwear and apparel brand with roots in New Zealand and our headquarters in San Francisco. Since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to prove that comfort, design, and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Our commitment to creating better things in a better way is fueled by a belief that the fashion industry needs to focus less on flash and more on thoughtfulness. And as a certified B Corp, we’re dedicated to making the most sustainable products we can using premium natural materials - designed for life’s everyday adventures.

Where we need help

Allbirds is in the process of building a world class operational team to increase our ability to consistently surprise and delight our customers while making the most positive impact to our environment. As we continue to grow at an enormous pace, we need to ensure that we manage our supply chain efficiently from start to finish. 

The Supply Chain Planning team plays a critical role in ensuring this occurs. The team is divided into global and retail planning. The global planning team is responsible for managing supply and demand across all products, channels, markets and factories.. The retail planning team sits within the planning organization and is focused on store demand forecasting, allocation, replenishments, and inventory management. The team works closely with Global Planning, Retail Operations, Product Strategy and Logistics to ensure retail inventory is optimized at the store level to maximize sales and protect customer experience. 

This individual will lead the Retail Planning and Allocation team as we continue to scale  our ever expanding retail footprint. This includes managing a team of planners and allocators who oversee and optimize our daily execution activities to ensure we’re meeting our core product service level targets in stores, optimizing store inventory, reviewing demand forecasts and working with cross-functional teams.  

This person will need to be a highly analytical individual, comfortable with leading from strategy to execution and be inherently comfortable dealing with large data sets in order to quickly inform decisions that impact our top and bottom line. Additionally, this individual should possess excellent communication skills and cross-functional collaborations skills. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to take on a leadership role at the intersection of planning, allocation and merchandising of a high growth consumer products business.

What does the job entail? 

• Lead the Retail Planning and Allocation team through a high growth period of new store openings over the next 12-18 months and help build and evolve processes to meet the needs of a complex business with a growing product assortment.
• Responsible for Retail Open to Buy (OTB) process to ensure product flow will meet sales and margin objectives.Manage all aspects of US store inventory management, allocations and replenishments from warehouse to storesLead and mentor a young and growing retail planning and allocation team, while wearing multiple hats of a planner, allocator and merchant as we continue to build out specialized departments
• Manage launch plans for new stores, products and promotional campaigns
• Develop and monitor a weekly US retail demand forecast at the store and style level utilizing inputs from Finance, Commercial, and Global Planning teams
• Drive cross-functional initiatives to improve processes and business outcomes, including future planning and allocation tool implementations
• Lead weekly cross-functional Sales, Inventory and Operations meetings with the Retail Operations Leadership
• Establish reporting tools to consistently monitor and report out on new products readiness, post-launch performance and store inventory service levels
• Create a store inventory management structure to reduce stock outs and maximize inventory utilization

What kind of person are we looking for?

• You have 8-10 years of prior retail planning, merchandising or allocation work experience, preferably in the apparel or footwear industry
• You are eager and have a strong ability to build relationships and partner with key stakeholders across the business, including executive leadership
• You are organized and able to multi-task and perform in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• You are a self-starter and enjoy a ‘blank canvas’ and building processes in a fast-paced environment
• You have the ability to both think strategically and execute tactically, a persistent attention to detail, and a high level of comfort in working with numbers
• You are an excellent communicator and have the ability to quickly grasp new concepts while asking appropriate questions when information or instruction is not entirely clear.
• You are a strong coach and able to mentor junior team members 

More practical skills needed: 

• BA/BS or equivalent, preferably with quantitative focus
• Advanced Excel and modeling skills 
• Experience using Looker, Google Sheets and Google AppScript preferred
• Deep analytical mindset, and problem-solving acumen
• Experience in product planning, inventory management and/or supply chain operations a must
• Knowledge of ERP systems / SAP a plus + additional planning tools

What can we offer?

• Competitive salary + equity
• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• 401k employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Fitness benefits
• Discounted products
• Pup friendly office!

Diversity

Allbirds is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Allbirds policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, marital or veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.