Manager, Planning

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 Summary: 

The Planning Manager will play a critical role on the Wholesale Planning team by driving financial planning, margin optimization, and inventory management across a portfolio of accounts and licensed brands. This role is responsible for both in-season tactical analysis—tracking monthly shipments, sales trends, and profitability—as well as long-range strategic planning at the account/brand level. In addition, the Planning Manager will oversee open-to-buy (OTB) management, production buy approvals, reporting, and hindsight analysis to ensure alignment between sales forecasts, margin targets, and inventory investments. This position requires strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.

Job Responsibilities: 

Sales & Margin Planning

• Build, manage, and maintain financial plans at the account/brand level, including sales, margin, and unit projections.
• Conduct monthly in-season analysis of shipments, sales performance, margin drivers, and customer profitability.
• Deliver financial recaps and insights to leadership, highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommendations for action.
• Partner with Sales, Production, and Operations to align forecasts and develop proactive strategies to meet budget objectives.
• Support long-range strategic planning by incorporating market trends, competitive insights, and brand initiatives.
• Lead seasonal planning and forecasting cycles, including pre-season gross sales planning and margin target setting.
• Conduct scenario planning and sensitivity analyses to inform decision-making and optimize profitability.

Inventory Control & OTB Management

• Own the OTB process across assigned accounts and brands; ensure inventory commitments align with sales and margin goals.
• Approve all production buys, validating demand assumptions, order timing, and inventory risk.
• Partner with Production and Sales to balance supply/demand and ensure timely delivery to customers.
• Track inventory positions weekly and provide visibility into liabilities, opportunities, and aging stock.
• Develop mitigation strategies for excess, slow-moving, or at-risk inventory.
• Drive reporting and dashboards that enhance transparency across inventory and OTB metrics.

Reporting, Analysis & Business Insights

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting packages for leadership, distilling complex data into clear, actionable takeaways.
• Lead post-season hindsight analyses to evaluate performance versus plan, identify learnings, and inform future strategies.
• Create standardized reports and tools that streamline planning processes and enhance team productivity.
• Track performance at multiple levels—program, account, and brand—ensuring visibility into profitability drivers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the planning lead with Sales, Production, and Finance, ensuring open communication and alignment on priorities.
• Provide insights and recommendations to Sales partners to support customer negotiations and account strategies.
• Collaborate with Production to manage commitments and ensure buys align with financial goals.
• Serve as a key partner in corporate initiatives, system enhancements, and process improvement projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in merchandise planning, wholesale planning, or retail financial planning.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with proven ability to synthesize data into actionable insights.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP or other enterprise planning tools strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience approving buys, managing OTB, and/or leading inventory planning a strong plus.
• Prior experience presenting to leadership and influencing decisions preferred.

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.

Salary Range: $105,000 - $115,000

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

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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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