Amazon Demand Planner

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Job description

USEReady has a great opportunity in NY City for a Wholesale Planner! The ideal candidate will work within the Dress Furnishings Group. Help position the Amazon business through proactive mid-to-long range demand forecasting and planning to facilitate growth of the various brands (sales and profitability) as well as support capacity requirements and business strategies. Make decisions that impact the demand plan and communicate those decisions to stakeholders. Use forecasting tools, internal and external collaboration and detailed analysis to deliver improved forecast accuracy and a deep understanding of total business performance. In this position, the planner is an integration point between sales and operations partners along with the corporate and customer planning teams. Participate in the collaboration process with colleagues in Sales to define long term financial goals to grow revenue and profitability. Be a well-rounded individual who encompasses analytical, communication and leadership skills. Quickly identify deviations from expected results and other disruptions then promptly resolve any issues. Work independently as well alongside cross-functional partners to achieve overall company goals. Have the ability to meet the demands of an ever evolving and fast-paced environment - must be able to multitask, delivering reports and analysis while strategically driving a profitable business.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Analyst/Problem Solver
o Develop future Point of Sale and Order forecasts by style/color for Amazon
o Assess the impact of market changes or significant variances in the forecast, and recommend appropriate revisions and tactics
o Manage statistical forecast exceptions by utilizing demand-planning exception reports to identify and fix potential issues
o Collect past/future demand factors (price changes, new/discontinued products, promotion plans, changes to PDP page) from sales and planning and forecast/model their impacts on demand.
o Interact with sales and operations to understand and interpret the potential impact market trends and demand drivers can have on demand, and adjust the statistical forecast to reflect those impacts
o Provide weekly sales analysis and recommendations (sales, stock, & AUR)
o Be able to create preseason business plans as well as reforecast sales and markdowns
o Maintain OTB and understand metrics needed to support it

Systems Expert
o Use the JDA PVH Common Model demand-planning processes & systems to create the best statistical forecast possible
o Use ACS & R4 for shipment and inventory data to facilitate forecast decision making and demand planning processes
o Use Amazon systems to access information shared (Vendor Central).

Communicator/Reporter
o Lead Amazon collaboration meeting with internal cross-functional partners - determine and communicate forecast confidence, including risks and opportunities. o Develop, monitor and communicate reports on forecast accuracy to business unit and Supply, while driving continuous improvement
o Measure, analyze, and report key process metrics and monitor adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs)
o Liaison between supply and business teams as a key communicator of forecast changes and supply availability

Process Improver
o Make recommendations to enhance business processes and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiencies.

Influencer/Collaborator
o Work with account management, sales, retail planning and leadership to generate a consensus demand plan
o Assist in development of annual plans and reconcile them with demand plans. Communicate any gaps between the plans.
o Influence and collaborate with key partners in sales and finance to address input gaps as identified by forecast error review and other means.
o Track and convert relevant information to share with team
o Ensure that the demand forecast is shared/received in the format, level of detail and timing required by all customers and supply chain partners, with documented assumptions.

Innovator/Decision Maker
o Work with various cross-functional teams on projects such as new product launches, line extensions and product discontinuations. Demonstrate sound business decision making aligned with company goals.
o Assist in managing the business at a point of sale and balancing the needs of generating sales volume and maintaining profitability.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
3-5 years of related planning and/or forecasting experience
Strong business judgment and planning skills.
Strong Retail and/or commercial acumen - concepts such as promotion, sell-through, margin, distribution mechanics, velocity, seasonality.
JDA Demand Planning in a consumer goods or fashion industry highly desirable ? Prior experience working with Amazon and in depth understanding of how their business operates is highly desired
Strong relationship management and collaboration skills
Highly self-motivated, detail oriented individual
A team player with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and maintain accuracy in all work
Highly proficient in MS Excel - ability to use advanced formulas and pivot tables

EDUCATION:
Bachelor's Degree

KEY CONTACTS:

Internal:
Supply, Merchandise Ops, Design, Planning, and Sales teams

External:
Account buying and planning teams

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Direct: N/A
Indirect:
In order to be effective the demand planner will participate in final decision on all adjustments to demand forecasts in ACS - As a result, the demand planner may need to veto the opinions of Account Executives and Retail Analysts. The demand planner will be an active participant and lead in monthly Replenishment buy meetings.

DECISION MAKING:
Must be able to make decisions quickly in an ever-changing environment. Must be able to proactively identify challenges, propose solutions and follow up on action plans. Primary decision-making will revolve around adjusting projected future needs by style/color. This will impact future wholesale purchases/shipments, inventory turn and profitability.

RESOURCEFULNESS/CREATIVITY:
Although there is standardized reporting and tools already setup, he/ she should be able to adapt adhoc reporting based on business and account needs. The planner needs to be able to lead and take charge of projects and come up with best practices that can be shared with the team. This person is solution oriented to provide best possible recommendation and/or solution for the brand despite roadblocks or constraints within project, workflow, budget, etc. This position will require the creation of new reporting tools (typically via Excel spreadsheet) and a new way of looking at a growing segment of the Dress Shirt Group business - this will be an ever-evolving position. This person will need to have the requisite creativity to tackle these challenges.

- provided by Dice