Planner, Bumble & Bumble, North America

Please note that we are open to considering remote applicants across all of the U.S., though candidates in the Eastern Time zone are preferred.
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, and managing key metrics and inventory levels. Manages retailer orders to ensure optimal ordering parameters, manages inventory in the trade to minimize returns and ensures the right level of WOS in the right SKUS in the right doors. Primary advisor to Account Lead, helping inform overall account strategy (e.g., Category Plan and Stock & Sales Plan). Reports to Head of Account & Sales Planning to ensure consistency across accounts. 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, inventory accuracy, net sales target achievement
Key Roles And Responsibilities
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

• Account Plan includes estimates of door changes (openings/closings) and retailer.com
• Help inform Account Lead strategy on optimal SKU assortment, focusing on streamlining assortment to those areas of highest opportunity
• Create category plans for select accounts separately or all accounts together at the major category level (e.g., makeup, skincare, fragrance)
• Provide feedback to Marketing on MFP/Brand Category Strategy
• 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

Seasonal Stock & Sales Plan Development

• Calls out risks and opportunities to financial plan to Head of Account & Sales Planning
• Conducts monthly in season discussions on Stock & Sales Plan (see Monthly Stock & Sales Plan Management and LE Reporting)
• Develops seasonal Brand Stock & Sales Plan based on retailer Stock & Sales Plan; ensure plan supports category and inventory targets, including returns

Other Seasonal Planning

• Participates in annual review of other allocation methodologies for samples or transaction based items (e.g., hygienic supplies, cards) with retailer to align on seasonal methodology
• Participates in annual 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

• Build and manage in-season shipments plans by reviewing previous month actuals and re-projecting plan; refresh weekly/monthly
• Develop monthly Latest Estimate
• 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

Order Processing

• Join appropriate field calls to stay current and anticipate ordering needs based on field activities
• Ensure that orders reflect correct SKU assortment for accounts / doors
• 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
• Conduct weekly / bi-weekly call with retail buyer to understand OTB and any constraints
• Update the weekly shipment forecast

Inventory Management

• Annually review physical inventory to variance reports to ensure accuracy and ensure correct adjustments are made
• Annual review of performance metrics (e.g., ROQ, WOS, counter service levels, stock turn)
• Recommend opening order for new retailers/stores
• 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
• 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
• Manage, communicate and execute return of goods on discontinued and post-holiday items and track in-season compliance
• Monthly 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
• Train retailers and employees on DIF process to ensure optimal usage; monitor compliance and provide feedback

Allocations

• Will spend time reviewing door level allocation of launch/holiday/sets to optimize inventory to drive retail sales
• Not involved in collateral allocation at the door level (conducted by centralized Marketing Ops position based on door profiles)
• May spend minimal time reviewing door level allocation of samples in passport; manages and communicates launch quantities and ship dates to retailer

Administrative Activities

• Attend monthly planner Community of Practice calls and Brand planner meetings
• 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)
• 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
• Conducts some relevant administrative tasks (e.g., filling out retailer required information for new products)
• Set up New Account Openings and closings

Core Competencies

• Highly organized and structured
• Strong financial and analytical acumen; ability to advocate for and develop planning best practices and strong, mutually beneficial collaboration with retailers
• Strong business savvy and knowledge; ability to use analytics to convince others of financially sound options for the Account that will maximize sales and minimize returns

Qualifications

• College degree required
• 5 years work experience, 1-2 of which is relevant
• Understanding of forecasting and replenishment planning tools and systems a plus
• Strong communication and negotiation skills and ability to present effectively and credibly to client
• Self-starter and ability to work independently
• 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.)
• Knowledge of basic inventory and replenishment skills is preferred
• Ability to review and analyze Stock & Sales Plan; knowledge of inventory models and KPIs (turn, WOS) and retail supply chain preferred

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $82,500 to $135,500. Exact salary depends on several
factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on
geographic location. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a
highly competitive bonus program with possibility for overachievement based on performance
and company results.
In addition, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees,
including health insurance coverage, wellness and family support programs, life and disability
insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid
holidays and vacation time, and many others. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid
for by the company.
Job: Sales
Primary Location: Americas-US-NY-
Job Type: Standard
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: 1st (Day) Shift
Job Number: 2310348
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 [email protected].