Lead Planner, Clinique North America (Remote)

PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE:

Strong business manager with extensive experience developing account category strategies, sell-through and sell-in forecasts, negotiating stock & sales plans, delivering gross shipments, managing key metrics and inventory levels, and managing and leading others. Manages retailer orders to ensure optimal ordering parameters (VMI) or advise on optimal parameters (non-VMI), manages inventory in the trade to minimize returns and ensures the right level of WOS in the right SKUS in the right doors. Works in partnership with Account Lead, that helps develop overall account strategy (e.g., Category Plan and Stock & Sales Plan).  Also works with retailer partner team to build retailer plans. Reports to Head of Account & Sales Planning to ensure consistency across accounts. Oversees planners across multiple accounts to ensure consistency and best practices are implemented. Ensures that account’s inventory is managed to hit brand and retailer metrics and supports retail sales growth.

 

PRIMARY EVALUATION METRICS: Gross shipments, returns, WOS, inventory turn, counter service level, inventory accuracy

 

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (for respective account):

PRE-SEASON PLANNING

Annual Budgets/Sales Plans/Gross Shipments

• Provide input to Head of Account & Sales Planning as needed for LRP and budgeting process

Seasonal Category Planning

• Prepare and align on upcoming season account category plan that includes detailed plan for basic, launch, gift and holiday business by applying detailed knowledge of account’s business and customer, brand strategy and category/SKU analytics
• Provide feedback to Marketing on MFP/Brand Category Strategy
• Account Plan includes estimates of door changes (openings/closings) and retailer.com
• If there is a gap between the plan and the MFP or financial targets, Planner may help the Account Lead develop a business case to close the gap; if there are opportunities, the planner will seek them out and build a plan around them
• Attends Seasonal planning meeting with retailer to support Account Lead in discussions on account category strategy
• For Specialty-Multi planners, develop forecasts for incremental programs for gondola and other store displays (e.g., out-postings, end caps)
• Help inform Account Lead strategy on optimal SKU assortment, focusing on differentiating assortment only in those areas of highest opportunity

Seasonal Stock & Sales Plan Development

• Proactively develops seasonal Brand Stock & Sales plan that supports category and inventory targets, including returns
• Leads meeting presenting Brand Stock & Sales plan with retail buyer and conducts needed adjustments based on feedback
• Negotiates Stock & Sales Plan with retailer seasonally as part of planning and then conducts monthly negotiations in season (see Monthly Stock & Sales Plan Management and LE Reporting)
• Calls out risks and opportunities to financial plan to Head of Account & Sales Planning

 

Other Seasonal Planning

• VMI: Works jointly with Replenishment team to lead seasonal discussion reviewing order parameters with retailer, making adjustments to improve the quality of the overall ROQ
• Non-VMI: Works jointly with Replenishment team to lead seasonal discussion to review retailer’s order parameters with buyer, suggesting adjustments to improve the quality of overall orders
• Sets WOS parameter’s plans by sku bucket
• Participates in seasonal review of door profiles that govern collateral allocations with retailer and make any necessary modifications
• Review Programming Side by Side calendar to ensure inventory is supporting strategic initiatives

IN-SEASON MANAGEMENT

Monthly Stock & Sales Plan Management and LE Reporting

• Manage in-season monthly brand stock and sales plans by reviewing previous month actuals, re-projecting plan, and conducting analyses on inventory/sales to drive insights
• Build weekly ship plans for account based on monthly Stock & Sales plan and refresh weekly/monthly
• Discuss re-projected sales and receipt plan with retailer
• Monitor and report on gross shipments to plan to Head of Account & Sales Planning and Account Lead, identifying any risks and opportunities; calls out gaps to seasonal plan and proposes initiatives to close the gaps/further drive sales
• Develop monthly Latest Estimate
• For Specialty-Multi planners, work with all buyers across categories and B&M/Online

Order Processing

• Conduct weekly / bi-weekly call with retail buyer/planner to understand OTB and any constraints
• VMI: Conduct strategic analyses on top doors and top SKUs to identify sales opportunities and build basic order, utilizing standard methodology and template for order processing
• Non-VMI: Conduct strategic analyses on top doors and top SKUs to identify sales opportunities and influence retailers’ basic order, utilizing standard methodology and template for order recommendations

• VMI: Develop initial and launch re-order quantities using analytics; process initial launches and launch re-orders
• Non-VMI:  Recommend initial and launch re-order quantities using analytics; review retailer submitted order to ensure it is within guidelines
• Develops orders that balance launch and basic needs and availability; ensures that order reflects seasonal sales spikes (e.g., GWP, Holiday); scales order to OTB as required
• Reviews counter service levels, OOS and fill rates and use as input to order changes
• Ensure that orders reflect correct SKU assortment for accounts / doors
• Update the weekly shipment forecast
• Join appropriate field calls to stay current and anticipate ordering needs based on field activities

Inventory Management

• Weekly review of Service Levels and evaluate any lost sales or SKUs with low WOS; address any issues and elevate to Head of Account & Sales Planning if needed
• Seasonal review of performance metrics (e.g., ROQ, WOS, counter service levels, stock turn) with Replenishment Team to revise (VMI) or recommend retailer changes (non-VMI)
• Manage inventory levels including phase-ins, phase-outs, discos, returns (customer and RTVs), DIFs, testers, inventory adjustments and markdowns, with particular focus on proactively minimizing returns and DIFs
• Manage, communicate and execute return of goods on discontinued and post-holiday items and track in-season compliance
• Train retailers and employees on DIF process to ensure optimal usage; monitor compliance and provide feedback
• Advise retailers’ on “like” replacements of OOS items and ensure re-orders are placed and filled in timely manner when item comes back in stock

• Recommend opening order for new retailers/stores
• For Specialty-Multi planners, provide SKU forecasts that meet SKU productivity targets for planograms and launch pipe
• For Specialty-Multi planners, monitor inventory levels at the DC to ensure sufficient WOS
• For Specialty-Multi planners, leverage returns/turn off SKU codes to ensure proper sell down prior to gondola update
• Annually review physical inventory to variance reports to ensure accuracy and ensure correct adjustments are made

 

Administrative Activities

• Proactively partners with Account Services to ensure that PO Logs and OOS Reports address the highest need areas for the retailer and field; works with Account Services to devise solutions when issues occur
• Stay up to date on information in retailer seasonal packet that includes SRP changes, SKU edits, OOS, discos, order form, RTV requirements and in stock dates (packet owned by Marketing Ops)
• Attend monthly planner Community of Practice calls and Brand planner meetings

 

Supervisory Activities:

• Manage planner direct reports across multiple accounts and guide them through the above activities
• Lead direct reports ensuring data consistency, pro-active forecasting and problem solving according to brand and account strategies
• Foster growth & development in their roles through daily coaching and feedback
• Role model elevated planning strategy and business partnership for planners
• Develop talent and provide feedback utilizing PDP process
• Host weekly planner calls for status on all account and planning activities within their purview

Qualifications

• College degree required
• Strong Leadership skills 
• 7 years’ professional experience with 3-5 years specifically in financial planning or working with stock & sales plans
• Strong math and analytical skills
• Strong ability to structure, analyze and manipulate large amount of data in excel quickly (e.g., pivot tables, vlookup, data cleaning, etc.)
• Ability to review and analyze Stock & Sales Plan; knowledge of inventory models and KPIs (e.g. turn, WOS) and retail supply chain
• Understanding of forecasting and replenishment planning tools and systems
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, and ability to present effectively and credibly to internal and external stakeholders
• Self-starter and ability to work independently
• Knowledge of basic inventory and replenishment skills
• Strong financial and analytical acumen; ability to advocate for and develop planning best practices and strong, mutually beneficial collaboration with retailers
• Business savvy; ability to use analytics to convince others of financially sound options for the Account that will maximize sales and minimize returns
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Ability to lead and manage others

Job: Sales
Primary Location: US-NY-New York
Job Type: Standard
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: 1st (Day) Shift
Job Number: 2210739

We are an equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices. Should you wish to apply for this position or any other position with the Company and you believe you require assistance to complete an application or participate in an interview, please contact USApplicantAccommodations@Estee.com.

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