Planning & Buying Manager

Our client is seeking a strategic, data-driven Planning & Buying Manager to lead inventory planning, assortment strategy, and purchasing across multiple sales channels. This hands-on role will own key buying decisions and help ensure the right products are available at the right time to support sales, margin, and inventory goals.

• Manage Open-to-Buy plans, demand forecasts, and inventory strategies.
• Balance sales, margin, inventory productivity, and product availability.
• Monitor inventory health, sell-through, weeks of supply, stock-to-sales, and inventory turn.
• Identify inventory risks and opportunities, including stock-outs and excess inventory.
• Lead buying and assortment strategies by category, SKU, color, and size.
• Evaluate product performance to guide replenishment, future buys, and assortment changes.
• Partner with internal teams on pricing, promotions, markdowns, and product launches.
• Own business reporting and present recommendations to leadership.
• Provide direction and support to junior buying and merchandising team members.

• 5+ years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory planning, buying, or merchandising.
• Experience in fashion, apparel, retail, or a related consumer products environment preferred.
• Strong background in Open-to-Buy planning, forecasting, assortment planning, and inventory analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong financial and analytical abilities.
• Experience with e-commerce or inventory management systems preferred.
• Organized, commercially minded, and confident making decisions in a fast-paced environment.

This is a hybrid role based in New York City, with an expectation of working onsite three days per week.