Director of Merchandise Planning
About The Position
Alex and Ani is in an exciting phase of growth, operating with the pace and agility of a scaling business while leveraging the foundation of an established consumer brand. We’re seeking a hands-on Director of Merchandise Planning to lead inventory and demand planning across all channels, including Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), Amazon (US, CA, MX), and wholesale partners. This role will serve as the lead planner for the business, owning forecasting, inventory management, and Open-to-Buy (OTB) processes while leveraging contract resources for tactical support and building scalable systems and organizational capabilities for long-term growth. This role is central to driving profitable growth by ensuring the right products are available in the right place at the right time. The Director will balance immediate execution with long-term function-building, including positioning the company to take advantage of emerging AI-powered planning capabilities.
Requirements
- 8-12+ years of experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or inventory management within DTC ecomm, retail, fashion, accessories, lifestyle, jewelry, or consumer brands
- Experience in multi-channel environments (DTC, Amazon/marketplaces, and wholesale)
- Strong expertise in forecasting methodologies, inventory optimization, and OTB management
- Proven ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment
- Advanced analytical skills; proficiency in Excel and Looker
- Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills
Nice To Haves
- Experience evaluating or implementing AI-based planning or demand forecasting tools preferred
- Experience building or scaling planning functions, processes, or systems preferred
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain accurate, data-driven forecasts across all channels (DTC, Amazon marketplaces, wholesale)
- Analyze historical sales, trends, seasonality, and market dynamics to inform demand plans
- Translate forecasts into actionable inventory plans that balance service levels, turnover, and margin
- Own inventory health across channels, minimizing stockouts and excess inventory
- Manage inventory allocation strategies across regions and channels to maximize sell-through and profitability
- Partner with supply chain and operations teams to align on production, replenishment, and lead times
- Assist merchandising in running monthly OTB process, including budget planning, tracking, and adjustments
- Partner with merchandising and finance to align OTB to financial targets and assortment strategies
- Provide visibility into risks and opportunities, proactively recommending actions
- Evaluate and improve planning tools, reporting, and operational workflows
- Build scalable processes for forecasting, inventory management, and OTB planning
- Identify opportunities for automation and operational efficiency, including emerging AI-enabled planning capabilities where appropriate
- Develop internal frameworks for measuring AI tool performance and adoption, ensuring new capabilities are embedded into day-to-day planning workflows
- Develop tailored planning strategies for each channel (DTC, Amazon US/CA/MX, wholesale) based on unique demand drivers and constraints
- Collaborate with marketplace and wholesale leads to incorporate partner promotions and align forecasts with partner expectations and growth plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
