Inventory Planning & Allocation Manager - HYBRID

Designer Brands Inc.•Columbus, OH

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

As an Inventory Planning & Allocation Manager, you’ll play a central role in how product reaches our customers—whether in stores or through digital fulfillment. This role is about more than managing inventory—it’s about connecting strategy to execution and leading a team that brings those plans to life every day. You’ll guide inventory decisions across categories, balancing assortment strategy, store capacity, and financial goals to deliver the right product to the right place at the right time. At the same time, you’ll lead and develop a team, helping them grow while driving strong execution, thoughtful insights, and continuous improvement. Your work will directly shape business performance and customer experience across the network.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in retail planning and allocation (home office environment)
Proven experience building, leading, or influencing teams
Strong analytical experience
Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in a related field preferred
Strong business acumen with understanding of assortment planning, product lifecycle management, and inventory flow
Advanced Excel skills required
Experience with allocation systems (Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle, or similar) strongly preferred
Ability to coach, motivate, and develop team members across different experience levels
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and engage partners and leadership
Experience working cross-functionally and building alignment across teams
Highly accountable with a focus on continuous improvement and problem solving
Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Ability to think strategically while staying close to execution
Comfortable navigating change and driving alignment in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in Merchandise Planning and Allocation
Store Planning experience is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and support a team of allocation analysts, senior analysts, and inventory planners
Set clear priorities, provide direction, and create opportunities for growth and development
Build a high-performing, collaborative team focused on delivering results
Support the development of allocation strategies across assigned categories
Align inventory plans with financial goals, assortment strategies, and store capacity
Guide the creation of store-level inventory and sales plans to drive productivity
Monitor category performance through analysis of inventory, sales trends, and store results
Identify risks and opportunities and take action to improve outcomes
Use data to inform decisions and influence business direction
Partner closely with Merchandising, Planning, Supply Chain, and Store Operations teams
Collaborate at a leadership level to influence assortment strategy, product lifecycle decisions, and inventory flow
Build strong relationships that drive alignment and results across teams
Ensure allocations are accurate, timely, and aligned with overall strategy
Create consistency and clarity in execution across the team
Maintain a strong focus on delivering results while adapting to changing business needs
Lead initiatives to improve processes, scalability, and system usage
Identify opportunities for automation and standardization
Encourage new ideas that enhance efficiency and team effectiveness
Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for team and inventory productivity
Communicate insights, trends, and recommendations to leadership in a clear and compelling way