Position Summary:

The Sr. Planner serves as the key subject matter expert and implementation strategist for the Anaplan planning platform, housed strategically within the MIS department. This is a critical liaison role responsible for bridging the gap between technical Anaplan development and various business/operational units (e.g., Sales, Planning, Supply Chain). The successful candidate will leverage a strong background in planning and retail/wholesale operations to guide system process logic, ensure successful user adoption, and drive continuous process and system improvement recommendations. This role will also maintain ownership of the end-to-end planning cycle for a portfolio of smaller, designated accounts.

Key Responsibilities:

I. Anaplan Implementation & System Leadership

• System Functional Leadership: Act as the primary business representative and functional lead for the Anaplan platform implementation, ensuring technical development accurately reflects defined business requirements, planning logic, and operational processes.
• Process Mapping & Design: Collaborate extensively with planning, sales, and supply chain teams to document current-state planning processes and define optimal, future-state processes within the Anaplan environment.
• User Training & Enablement: Develop comprehensive training materials and conduct targeted training sessions for end-users across all business units to maximize adoption and effective utilization of the Anaplan platform for forecasting, planning, and reporting.
• System Testing & Validation: Coordinate and execute rigorous User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for new Anaplan model features, system enhancements, and deployments to ensure data accuracy, calculation logic, and overall system functionality.
• Governance & Maintenance: Serve as the functional Anaplan Super User post-implementation, responsible for ongoing governance, maintaining planning parameters, managing user hierarchies, and ensuring data integrity within the Anaplan models.

II. Demand Planning & Analysis

• Demand Forecasting: Manage the end-to-end demand planning process for designated smaller accounts, developing style demand and inventory plans based on statistical inputs, historical trends, and market intelligence.
• Forecast Maintenance: Partner with account teams to ensure accurate forecasts and appropriate inventory parameters are consistently set and maintained in both retailer replenishment systems and internal planning tools.
• In-Season Reporting: Conduct deep-dive analysis of in-stock positions, Week of Supply (WOS), and sales performance data at the style/color level to monitor in-season trends, report business opportunities/risks, and recommend plan adjustments.
• Financial & Inventory Projection: Provide monthly replenishment and sales financial projections for assigned accounts to Account Executives and the Business Planning team.

III. Collaboration & Integration

• Integrated Business Planning (IBP): Collaborate closely with Merchandise Planning, Sales, and Finance to ensure the Anaplan platform effectively supports seamless Integrated Business Planning and S&OP processes across the organization.
• Supply Chain Alignment: Partner with Supply Chain and Production Planning teams to clearly communicate validated demand signals, optimize inventory holding levels, and proactively identify potential WIP or production challenges.
• Data Integrity: Work with the MIS/IT Data Governance team to ensure the quality, accuracy, and timely flow of data supporting the Anaplan models and planning processes.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Demand Planning, Merchandise Planning, Inventory Management, or a related planning function within the retail or wholesale industry.
• Planning Domain Knowledge: Deep understanding of core retail math principles (e.g., GMROI, Turn, Open-to-Buy) and end-to-end supply chain planning processes.
• Technical Aptitude: Proven ability to work effectively with large datasets, understand complex data flows, and bridge functional knowledge with technical system requirements.
• Software Proficiency: Advanced skill level in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, advanced formulas) and experience utilizing reporting tools for data extraction and analysis.
• Communication & Leadership: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the proven ability to present complex information clearly and influence cross-functional business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Anaplan Experience: Prior hands-on experience implementing, managing, configuring, or serving as a power user/functional lead for the Anaplan platform is highly desirable.
• System Implementation: Direct experience participating in or leading a module of a major ERP or Enterprise Planning System implementation/upgrade project.
• Certification: Anaplan Certification (Model Builder, Solution Architect, or related certification) is a strong plus.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Management Information Systems (MIS), or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Proactive & Self-Starter: Highly motivated, resourceful, and capable of operating autonomously within a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Strategic & Detail-Oriented: Possesses the ability to see the big picture (strategic vision) while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail (execution).
• Change Agent: Demonstrated comfort with leading change, challenging the status quo, and driving continuous improvement in planning processes.
• Collaborative Leader: A natural team player with strong influence skills, able to build consensus and positive relationships across diverse organizational functions (IT, Sales, Supply Chain).
• Travel: Ability to travel to other company facilities and key accounts as needed.