Manager, Inventory & Demand Planning

Zenni Optical

About The Position

The Manager, Inventory and Demand Planning drives optimal inventory planning and investment to support sales performance and margin execution. The role combines strategic inventory financial and unit planning with operational demand forecasting to align inventory with customer demand. It is responsible for subcategory in-stock positions, guiding a team of planners, and maintaining governance over sales targets, gross margins, and inventory performance. Alongside managing team operations, the Manager directly owns end-to-end financial and demand planning for assigned product categories and subcategories across Frames or Lens. The role also helps lead deployment and continuous improvement of planning systems, including AI capabilities, reporting, and analytics tools. The ideal candidate balances financial oversight with item-level demand planning, manages subcategory Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, leads high-priority SKU strategy at the factory and location level, and maintains system logic for secondary product tiers.

Requirements

Strong ability to synthesize large datasets, translate analysis into actionable strategies, and present clear solutions to management.
Expertise translating item-level demand into dollar projections, gross margins, and working-capital requirements.
Deep understanding of promotional lift, seasonal curves, sales velocity, and historical trend modeling.
Proven ability to build cross-functional partnerships and integrate diverse input into a unified demand plan.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
Advanced Microsoft Excel expertise, including financial modeling, complex formulas, pivot tables, and data structuring.
Ability to adopt artificial intelligence into functional requirements.
Hands-on experience implementing and using enterprise planning software and managing teams using it, such as Anaplan, Blue Yonder, SAP APO/IBP, or Oracle Retail.
4–6+ years of progressive experience in merchandise financial planning or demand planning, including direct category ownership and supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Review monthly and quarterly sales, margin, and inventory performance across subcategories, tracking results against targets and OTB.
Own end-to-end financial and demand planning for assigned subcategories in addition to team management responsibilities.
Balance inventory portfolio goals across Frames and Lens commodities to optimize gross margin and working capital.
Direct stock reallocations, inventory consolidations, and safety-stock adjustments across locations to reduce liabilities and stockouts and maximize turnover.
Manage and coach Merchandise Planners, establishing operational KPIs, workflows, and development plans.
Lead integration, utilization, and ongoing refinement of planning software, algorithms, analytical reporting tools, and AI capabilities.
Direct hands-on planning and location- and factory-level forecasting for core best-selling SKUs, while maintaining and refining planning logic for B, C, and D SKUs.
Lead weekly operational reviews of sales performance, forecast accuracy, out-of-stock risks, and New Product Introduction on-time deliveries.
Oversee sell-through plans for discontinued items to minimize exit-inventory liabilities and write-off risk.
Collaborate with Product Category, Marketing, Procurement, Warehousing, and Logistics teams to align strategies and execute unified plans.
Work with Procurement to ensure timely purchases that fulfill OTB requirements.

Benefits

Annual bonus program.
Medical, dental, and vision premiums covered at 100% for employees and 50% for dependents.
Basic life and AD&D coverage, with optional additional voluntary coverage.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) with up to 4% match.
EAP and Spring Health access to free therapy and coaching for employees and dependents.
Free access to the Wellness Coach digital wellness platform for employees and their families.
Flex Time Off and a Week of Zen between Christmas and New Year’s.
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
Family-forming and fertility support and services through Maven.
Annual Zenni gift card for company products.