Inventory Planning Manager

Job Description

The Team:

The Planning and Allocation team supports Hermès of Paris business by managing the process of sales forecasting, open to buy (OTB), oversee auto replenishment, inventory management, reporting and analysis. The Allocation team develops strategies and sets clear directions to maximize business performance.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Allocation Manager to join our Planning and Allocation team. In this role, you will manage the strategic distribution of products while ensuring optimal stock levels are aligned with customer demand. You will lead allocation processes with a data-driven approach and collaborate cross-functionally to support sales and inventory goals.

About the Role:

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the end-to-end allocation strategy across boutiques and channels, ensuring optimal product distribution aligned with business objectives, client demand, and brand standards
• Develop and manage pre-season and in-season allocation plans, including initial allocations, replenishment, auto-replenishment, and rebalancing to maximize sell-through and maintain healthy inventory levels
• Lead the continuous improvement of allocation tools, systems, and processes, including the implementation and optimization of replenishment solutions.
• Lead post-buy and hindsight analysis in partnership with Merchandising to evaluate performance and inform future buying and allocation strategies
• Monitor store performance, sales trends, and inventory levels to identify risks and opportunities, proactively addressing overstock, stock-outs, and imbalances
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Logistics, Retail Operations and IT to support product launches, seasonal transitions, and key business initiatives
• Track inventory flows from distribution centers to boutiques, supporting allocation strategies for seasonal deliveries and key launch moments
• Support the development and ongoing management of back-of-house (BOH) capacity plans, monitoring store capacity against current and future inventory levels and escalating risks as needed
• Analyze allocation, sales, and inventory KPIs, providing clear reporting and actionable insights to senior leadership and cross-functional partners
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of store profiles, including master data, lead times, and delivery constraints to enhance allocation effectiveness
• Develop and enhance allocation reporting and analytics to enable timely insights that support strategic decision-making
• Provide training to Store Associates with current replenishment tools and processes knowledge, not limited to ad-hoc inquiries directed by senior team members/leadership

Supervisory Responsibility:

• NO

Budget Responsibility:

• NO

Decision Making Responsibility:

• YES
  • Approval of Transfers
  • Approval of Initial allocation
  • Inventory management between boutiques

About You:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Inventory Planning, Retail Planning, Supply Chain Management or a related field.
• 4-5 years of experience in allocation, planning, or merchandise management, preferably with leadership or mentoring experience.
• High proficiency in retail math and Excel, including data analysis, forecasting, and modeling.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and guide team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Comfortable and confident making allocation decisions and recommendations grounded in data.
• Strong ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, with experience managing and interpreting large datasets to drive informed decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements, develop systematic approaches, deliver results, and resolve issues with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and listening skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with team members, cross-functional partners, and field colleagues at all levels.

The range for this position is $95,000 - $110,000 annually. Actual rates are determined based on the job, location, and individual experience.

Hermès is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support the needs of our employees and their families, including:

• Commission and bonus incentives based on sales performance
• Medical, Dental, Vision,
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Paid time off (annual vacation of 15 days, 11 company holidays, 3 floating holidays, 2 wellbeing days, and sick & safe time)
• Paid Parental leave and transition time
• 401(k) and Roth Retirement plan with company matching and profit sharing
• Various voluntary benefits such as flexible spending accounts, fitness reimbursement, voluntary life insurance
• Product discount and EAP resources
• Access to Calm App, Health Advocate, Family Building Support and more!

We are looking for a candidate that has a combination of the above attributes and can perform the key functions of the role with or without reasonable accommodations.

Company…