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Job description
Sales forecasting
Style productivity
Lifecycle planning
Support Sales leadership by:
Sales performance
Margin performance
Job Title: Vice President / Head of Wholesale Planning
Position Summary
The Vice President / Head of Wholesale Planning is responsible for leading the company's wholesale planning strategy, driving profitable growth through best-in-class merchandise planning, inventory management, demand forecasting, and financial planning. This executive partners closely with Sales, Merchandising, Design, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to ensure the organization delivers the right product, in the right quantities, at the right time.
This leader builds planning capabilities, improves forecasting accuracy, optimizes inventory investments, and develops scalable planning processes that support both existing business and future growth. The role is highly analytical while serving as a strategic business partner to senior leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning Leadership
Develop and execute the company's wholesale planning strategy aligned with financial and growth objectives.
Own seasonal financial plans including sales, inventory, margin, and receipt targets.
Lead long-range planning and annual operating plans for the wholesale business.
Build scalable planning capabilities to support continued company growth.
Serve as a key member of the Product and Commercial Leadership Team.
Merchandise & Financial Planning
Lead planning across all brands and wholesale channels including:
Sales forecasting
Inventory planning
Open-to-Buy (OTB)
Receipt planning
Margin planning
SKU productivity
Category performance
Style productivity
Lifecycle planning
Ensure inventory investments maximize profitability while maintaining appropriate customer service levels.
Forecasting & Demand Planning
Improve forecast accuracy using historical data, market trends, POS information, and customer insights.
Develop scenario planning around demand shifts, tariffs, supply disruptions, and customer changes.
Lead monthly forecast reviews with executive leadership.
Establish standardized forecasting methodologies across brands.
Inventory Optimization
Optimize inventory investments across all brands.
Reduce excess inventory and markdown exposure.
Improve inventory turns and productivity.
Partner with Supply Chain to balance service levels with working capital objectives.
Develop strategies for slow-moving and aging inventory.
Commercial Partnership
Support Sales leadership by:
Providing customer-level planning insights
Supporting major account planning
Building financial scenarios
Identifying growth opportunities
Evaluating assortment productivity
Participating in customer business reviews
Business Analytics
Develop executive reporting and dashboards including:
Sales performance
Forecast accuracy
Inventory health
Fill rates
Customer demand
Margin performance
Inventory turns
Weeks of Supply
Open-to-Buy
Gross Margin Return on Inventory (GMROI)
Provide actionable recommendations based on data.
Process Improvement
Drive continuous improvement across planning functions by:
Standardizing planning processes
Implementing planning tools and technology
Improving data quality
Automating reporting
Simplifying planning workflows
Creating scalable operating rhythms
Team Leadership
Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing planning organization.
Build organizational capability through coaching and succession planning.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Establish clear performance expectations and development plans.
Leadership Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Strategic business acumen
Executive presence
Strong commercial mindset
Exceptional analytical capability
Financial acumen
Collaborative leadership
Data-driven decision making
Influence without authority
Change leadership
Operational excellence
Customer focus
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or related field
12+ years of progressive planning experience within wholesale apparel, footwear, or consumer products
7+ years leading high-performing planning teams
Experience supporting major wholesale retailers
Strong financial planning and inventory management expertise
Advanced analytical and forecasting skills
Experience with ERP, planning, and BI platforms
Expert proficiency in Excel and planning systems
Preferred
MBA
Experience in licensed apparel
Children's apparel experience
Experience with omnichannel planning
Experience leading planning transformation initiatives
Salary $200,000–$250,000
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Worksite address
new york, NY, 10261, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.