Demand Planner chez Gear Up Sports

Description

Company info:  gearUP’s mission is to outfit youth sports teams with customized gear – on time for game time!  We have simplified the hassle of outfitting youth sports teams with customized gear from the best brands. Our webstores are always open and product ships direct to athletes on time.  gearUP has been one of the fastest growing companies in the Pacific Northwest since 2018, and we have so much opportunity ahead of us.  Now is a great time to join our team!

Job Description Summary:

Demand planners play a pivotal role in ensuring that organizations can meet customer demand while minimizing costs and maximizing profits. They are responsible for forecasting product demand, conducting data analysis, optimizing inventory levels, and collaborating with various departments. Demand Planning sits within the Merchandising Department to ensure alignment of seasonal Go-To-Market workstreams and execution toward sales & merchandising strategies.  They partner closely with Merchandising on assortment planning, new product launches, and product lifecycle exit strategies.  Knowledge of customer & consumer insights, market insights, the competitive landscape, promotional activity, assortment planning and historical sales analysis is critical for success in this role.    

Responsibilities and Duties:

Data Analysis & Forecasting Demand:

o   Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and seasonal fluctuations to predict future product demand and create accurate demand forecasts.

o   Facilitate and manage bottoms up forecasting exercises of all categories

o   Communicate any risks to Merchandising, Production and Finance

o   Ensure prior season at-once purchases and current inventory on-hand are factored into the seasonal demand plan futures buying strategy. This may involve using statistical models and advanced forecasting techniques to make informed predictions. 

Planning & Buying:

o   Partner with Finance to understand seasonal open-to-buy budgets by vendor.

o   Participate in vendor product introduction meetings and learn all new product features and benefits at all price points.

o   Responsible for monitoring inventory across categories to inform forecasted demand and seasonal purchasing plans while partnering with Supply Chain operations Analysts to ensure in-stock rates to maximize revenue while hitting inventory turn targets. 

o   Place seasonal product orders 6 months in advance with company vendors.

o   Build product buy plans for both carry-over and seasonal SKUs.

Collaboration:

o   Work closely with the merchandising, sales, finance, marketing, and supply chain teams to align demand forecasts with business growth initiatives, strategies and promotional activities.

o   Build out key customer growth strategies with Sales Leadership and Merchandising to determine relevant product assortments & forecasted demand required to execute successfully.

o   Strategize and collaborate with cross-functional teams on future promotional plans, ensuring financial targets are achieved and teams are aligned on execution. 

o   Manage to vendor deadlines for seasonal product buys.

Reporting:

o   Collaborate with Supply Chain Operations Analysts to prepare bi-weekly presentation materials and lead demand review meetings sharing forecast accuracy and traction against demand and inventory KPI’s, service levels, highlighting key assumptions and potential risks.

o   Solicit input from cross-functional teams to better understand market and customer dynamics and determine logical next steps. 

Problem-Solving:

o   Quickly respond to market changes and unforeseen disruptions, developing contingency plans to mitigate potential risks in customer demand fulfillment and/or financial risk for the company. 

o   Partner with Merchandising and Supply Chain Operations to manage lifecycle line plan changes

o   Develop market & consumer relevant seasonal brand aligned product assortments leveraging history, market knowledge, consumer trend assessment and financial risk and reward.  

Other: Other tasks and projects, as assigned.

Requirements

Skills & Qualities:

·         Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Software Suite (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

·         Advanced Microsoft Excel modeling skills

·         Proficient working with ERP systems, experience with Microsoft Dynamics a plus.

·         Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, pro-actively plan, prioritize, adherence to deadlines and follow-through on commitments

·         Ability to understand priority needs and adjust when necessary or when directed

·         Advanced analytical skills with expertise in interpreting sales data and market trends and then present to all levels of the organization

·         Results-driven, proactive, and able to prioritize in a fast-paced environment

·         Deadline-driven with a strong sense of urgency

·         Strong leadership and motivational skills

·         Strong quantitative skills with the ability to analyze data / detail

·         Strong verbal and written communication skills

·         Strong organizational skills

·         Attention to detail and follow-up are critical

·         Ability to communicate complex issues, risks and opportunities in an easily understood and concise manner, with specific and complete information and alter communication styles to meet audience needs

·         Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Experience & Education:

·         3-5 years of experience forecasting, managing receipts and total open-to-buy required.

·         3-5 years of experience buying/planning; Apparel experience a plus.

·         Analytical ability and proficiency in retail math and inventory management.

·         4-Year College degree required; Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Planning Analytics, Purchasing Analytics or Business preferred.

Physical Requirements:

·         Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

·         Viewing computer monitors for extended periods.

·         Talking, listening, and typing for extended periods

·       Ability to travel

Benefits

Gear Up Sports provides the following employee benefits:

·         Paid Time Off (PTO) – 2 weeks (80 hours) per year banked at the beginning of the calendar year, pro-rated to the start date.

·         Paid Holidays – New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas

·         Healthcare Benefits – Effective the first of the month following the date of hire:

·         Health/Vision insurance through Regence BlueCross BlueShield

·         Dental insurance through LifeMap Dental

·         Life, Disability & Accident Insurance through MetLife – effective 1st of the month following date of hire:

·         Group Term Life insurance – company paid

·         Long Term Disability insurance – company paid

·         Short Term Disability insurance –company paid – provided for employees working in states without state-specific paid family/medical leave programs.

·         Voluntary additional life insurance

·         Voluntary Accident Insurance

·         Flexible Spending Account Plan – allowing pre-tax savings for Health and Dependent Care Expenses

·         Health Savings Account -  allowing pre-tax savings for Health expenses

·         Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – plan provided through Canopy

·         401(k) Plan – participation after three months of employment with employer-matching contribution