Director of Planning Systems

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

Position Overview:

The Director of Planning Systems is an IT leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing the organization’s planning systems across key functions, including financial planning and consolidation, demand planning, supply planning, and merchandise planning. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Information Technology, this role focuses on designing, implementing, and optimizing technology solutions that support integrated planning processes and data-driven decision-making throughout the organization. The Director will partner with business leaders and cross-functional teams to ensure that planning systems are aligned with strategic goals and operational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Systems Leadership:

• Lead the technology strategy for financial, demand, supply, and merchandise planning systems, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and IT best practices.
• Oversee the selection, integration, and configuration of planning tools to support robust forecasting, budgeting, inventory management, and financial reporting capabilities.
• Guide the development of frameworks and processes to support both short-term objectives and long-term organizational growth.
• Facilitate the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process through system capabilities that align demand forecasts, supply chain capacity, and financial goals.

2. Planning Systems Management and Optimization:

• Manage the planning systems for financial consolidation, demand and supply forecasting, and merchandise planning to ensure reliability, data accuracy, and compliance.
• Lead efforts to optimize and maintain planning systems, ensuring they meet evolving business requirements and adhere to IT governance standards.
• Collaborate with IT, Finance, Supply Chain, and Merchandising departments to identify system enhancements, configure updates, and troubleshoot issues.
• Oversee system changes to accommodate new product lines, business units, or organizational restructuring as needed.

Preferred experience with leading planning systems, such as SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP), SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC), Oracle Hyperion, Anaplan, Kinaxis RapidResponse, Blue Yonder, and Adaptive Insights.

3. Financial Planning and Consolidation Systems:

• Manage the technology behind financial consolidation processes to ensure accurate, compliant reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support budgeting and forecasting systems to align with financial plans and business objectives.
• Develop and implement financial planning models and reporting capabilities to aid strategic decision-making by senior leadership.

4. Demand, Supply, and Merchandise Planning Systems:

• Oversee demand and supply planning systems to ensure accurate forecasts that align with supply chain and inventory management capabilities.
• Manage merchandise planning systems to optimize inventory levels, product assortments, and stock based on sales performance and demand trends.
• Partner with merchandising and supply chain teams to ensure planning systems support effective inventory management, profitability, and demand fulfillment.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Merchandising, and IT teams to drive cohesive, technology-enabled planning processes.
• Act as a liaison between IT and business teams to translate operational requirements into system configurations and enhancements.
• Partner with senior leadership to provide insights, recommendations, and data-driven analysis to support strategic decision-making and organizational growth.

6. Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and mentor a team of IT professionals focused on planning systems, ensuring they are equipped to optimize system capabilities and support end users.
• Provide training and guidance to end users on system functionalities, best practices, and ad-hoc reporting and forecasting needs.

Essential Skills and Competencies:

• Strong expertise in managing planning systems across financial, demand, supply, and merchandise functions.
• Extensive experience in financial consolidation, budget management, data integrity, and system compliance.
• Proficiency with leading planning platforms, including SAP IBP, SAP BPC, Oracle Hyperion, Anaplan, Kinaxis RapidResponse, Blue Yonder, and Adaptive Insights.
• Proven track record of managing IT systems and complex planning initiatives within finance, supply chain, and merchandising.
• Advanced skills in data analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling to support strategic planning.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical and business teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience, including expertise in financial planning, demand forecasting, and IT systems management.
• Proven experience in a leadership role managing planning systems and cross-functional technology teams.
• Advanced proficiency with financial modeling and analysis tools, as well as planning and forecasting systems.

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please note that Centric Brands will only reach out to interview, make an offer of employment or conduct onboarding activities for candidates who have applied through our careers site. When interviewing for a position, the candidate experience will include live interaction, such as a video conference or telephone call, with a Recruiter and/or company employee(s). We will never ask for any money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. Be aware of suspicious recruitment activity. If you think you are a victim of an employment scam, you may contact your local law enforcement agency and/or visit the Federal Trade Commission website here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams.

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