Associate Planner, Inventory Management

Associate Planner, Inventory Management

Manage inventory for a portfolio of stores across North America, ensuring stock levels meet sales targets and store capacity while supporting key events. Work closely with cross‑functional teams to forecast, plan, and optimize inventory using data and retail insights. This is a contract through January 31, 2027. Possible extension should business needs and performance align.

Our client is a Vancouver company with global operations and an impeccable reputation. They are a people‑centric organization, known for their collaborative team culture.

As an Associate Planner, Inventory Management, you are responsible for analyzing and overseeing inventory management for a specific portfolio of stores across North America. The Inventory Management team focuses on conducting strategic actions and in‑depth analyses to optimize inventory levels in stores considering business needs, sales projections, and store capacity. You will be actively monitoring key metrics on a weekly basis, using data to understand trends, identify shifts in patterns and react accordingly to maximize sales and mitigate potential risks.

Your role involves data‑driven decision‑making as you collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including planning, merchandising, outbound logistics, retail operations, and DC network planning, ensuring that inventory management strategies are aligned with overall business objectives.

• Oversee inventory management for a designated portfolio of stores, focusing on divisional and class‑level performance.
• Perform in‑depth analysis of store inventory levels and performance at the SKU level to identify opportunities and actions.
• Manage inventory parameters within Anaplan and RMS to ensure appropriate replenishment depth and demand.
• Conduct regular high‑level analysis of store portfolios to ensure inventory levels are within optimal capacity ranges and aligned with sales expectations.
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with Regional Managers and cross‑functional teams to support store‑level inventory management.
• React to inventory escalations and inquiries with a sense of urgency, validating issues through analysis and pattern recognition, consulting with relevant partners, providing action/solution, and sharing back learnings to larger group discussion of market trends.
• Lead short‑ and long‑range forecasting efforts, including revisions to outbound inventory flow strategies.
• Foster continuous collaboration with key partners, including Exit Planning, Merchandise Planning, Merchandising, Retail Operations, and field teams.
• Generate daily and weekly reports and presentations for internal teams and cross‑functional partners.
• Handle ad‑hoc tasks and special projects based on evolving business needs.

• 1‑3 years of relevant experience in planning, analytics, forecasting, or inventory management.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Economics, Finance, Data Analysis, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in a similar role.
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to design and implement formulas that proactively validate outputs and reports.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Proven ability to build strong working relationships and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions to new challenges.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, and related tools.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work independently and drive results.
• Self‑motivated problem solver, proactive, and resourceful in identifying and addressing issues.
• High sense of urgency with the ability to thrive in an agile, fast‑paced environment.

$35-36.50 + 4% vacation pay.

Vancouver, Hybrid 4 days a week, 1 remote work day.

Swim Recruiting has been engaged as a trusted recruitment agency partner on this important search. If you are interested, please reach out very soon!