Manager, Planning

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization :

Lead and enhance the planning process for assigned DTC channels (Concept Stores & Factory Outlets) by managing and optimizing the Open-to-Buy (OTB) planning and volume allocation.

Analyze merchandise performance and forecast future trends to drive sales and margin growth. Collaborate with key stakeholders to align planning activities and achieve financial goals.

Key Responsibilities :

Develop comprehensive financial plans with input from merchandise, marketing, and finance teams, including forecasts for sales, gross margin, inventory, and turnover.

Engage in cross-functional alignment for accurate forecasting, reporting, and analysis.

• Implement pre-season Open-to-Buy (OTB) strategies in alignment with market financial targets (including planned production for Factory Outlet).
• Support the timely submission of forecasts for horizonal review by global functions, including both key milestones and monthly forecasts
• Establish and drive performance against channel-specific KPIs and benchmarks (e.g., in-store rate, sell-through) to measure success and drive strategy.
• Identify opportunities and risks against the plan, providing actionable recommendations to enhance performance.
• Manage inventory health to ensure optimal stock levels and turnover. Ensure effective stock flow to maintain product relevance, facilitate stock clearance, and optimize margins for both planned & non-planned production.
• Manage forecasts & analyze business performance at relevant levels to support business needs including Gender, Category, Class, Key Item / Franchises, and Product Type.

Share insights & provide guidance to improve sell-through in partnership with Buying & Allocation.

• Contribute to the development of standardized reporting practices and control methods. Manage weekly and monthly reporting, delivering accurate analysis to support business decisions and channel performance.
• Develop and integrate promotional strategies into monthly forecasts to drive sales and achieve profit targets
• Partner on markdown and pricing recommendations using the PRINCE markdown optimization tool to meet forecast and margin targets.
• Support size analysis and breakdowns with Buying and Allocation, ensuring alignment with market needs & integration into the buying process
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with the Buying and Allocation teams, and communicate effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Partner with the finance team on budgeting, forecasting, and ad hoc financial milestones, ensuring alignment with organizational goals
• Collaborate with the buying team to drive planning-led initiatives and deliver against pre-season go-to-market milestones.

People Management

• Create a supportive work environment in which employees are coached, trained and provided with career opportunities through development.
• Provide team members / direct reports with clear direction and targets that are aligned with business needs and objectives.

Key Relationships :

• Planning Team
• Buying & Allocation Team
• Retail Fleet Leadership
• Retail SLT
• Retail Finance Team
• Retail Operations Team
• Marketing Team
• Space Planning Team
• Supply & Demand Planning Team
• Excess Inventory Team

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Proven ability to build strong relationships and work cross-functionally to develop solutions in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills for effective interaction with buying, allocation, and fleet teams.
• Comprehensive understanding of company policies and practices, coupled with robust theoretical and practical knowledge in relevant areas.
• Strong competence in buying procedures and systems, with practical experience in managing these processes.
• Demonstrated strong financial acumen, including familiarity with retail math and key performance indicators (KPIs). Ability to leverage data to make informed recommendations that drive business success.
• Exceptional skills in prioritizing tasks, attention to detail, and managing multiple assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Capable of presenting insights clearly and responding effectively to questions from leaders, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications :

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in a related field, with a focus on planning functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven experience in a planning function, with a thorough understanding of and training in relevant processes and practices.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, with the ability to utilize advanced functions and data analysis tools effectively.

Why adidas?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best.

We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.

adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage.

After meeting eligibility criteria, employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match.

Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked and 12 paid holidays a year.

We officially returned to the office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote. The working location of this position is Portland.

Relocation support available for consideration

Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.