Associate Director, Demand Planning & Purchasing

Job Description

Job Description

True Classic is hiring an Associate Director , Planning Systems & Inventory — an AI-native, systems-first leader who will design and implement the AI-powered tools, processes, and analytics that turn business goals into fast, repeatable forecasting, replenishment, and inventory decisions across categories, channels and markets. You'll own the core processes, systems and AI-driven frameworks that power end-to-end demand planning, inventory management, and forecasting within the Planning function. At True Classic, planning is not a spreadsheet exercise — it's an AI-augmented discipline. Our team actively uses Claude (Anthropic) and AI Agents as core workflow tools for demand modeling, scenario analysis, inventory optimization, and operational decision-making. You'll be expected to build on this foundation: creating and refining AI-assisted planning models, training your team to work alongside AI, and continuously pushing the frontier of what's possible when experienced planners are equipped with modern AI tools.

This is a highly collaborative role that partners closely with Merchandising, Operations, Finance, and Tech, ensuring planning decisions are aligned with business objectives and financial targets. You'll lead the development of scalable, AI-enhanced systems and reporting that empower data-driven decisions and enhance visibility across the business. As a senior leader on the Planning team, you'll also play a key role in shaping and managing the team and driving continuous improvement in our planning processes as we continue to expand globally. This is a true builder role with direct exposure to company senior leadership and a unique operator opportunity for someone already working in Planning or looking to move from consulting or analytics into a product/operational leadership position — with the added requirement that you bring (or are deeply eager to develop) fluency in using AI as a daily working tool.

All of True Classic's roles are global and omni-channel, leading designated areas of accountability across all product categories, countries, and sales and marketing channels. This role will have impact across DTC, retail, wholesale, marketplaces, and emerging channels, ensuring strategic alignment and executional rigor across the enterprise.

Areas of Accountability AI-Driven Planning & Process Development

• Build, refine, and scale AI-augmented demand planning and inventory management processes that drive clarity, speed, and accuracy across teams.
• Design and maintain AI-assisted forecasting models using tools like Claude, leveraging historical data, sales velocity, seasonality, and promotional calendars to generate demand signals and replenishment recommendations.
• Create tools, templates, and automated reporting structures that enhance visibility and enable faster, data-driven decision-making — replacing manual, spreadsheet-heavy workflows with AI-powered alternatives wherever possible.
• Partner cross-functionally with Merchandising, Finance, Operations, and Tech to align business goals with planning frameworks.
• Drive the ongoing evolution of True Classic's planning process — simplifying, systematizing, and standardizing wherever possible, with AI as a force multiplier.

Tool & System Implementation

• Lead initiatives to improve and integrate planning and allocation tools — including AI-powered forecasting, automated reporting, and inventory management platforms.
• Work with Tech, BI, and cross-functional partners to bring planning tools in-house, ensuring scalability and usability.
• Identify automation and efficiency opportunities (using Claude, Viktor AI-slack agent, and other AI agents nad tools) that free up team bandwidth and improve accuracy.
• Maintain a structured approach to AI adoption: fix data foundations first, then layer intelligence on top — not the reverse.

Operational Leadership

• Establish a strong offshore/onshore support model to execute forecasting, replenishment, and inventory analytics.
• Hire, coach, and develop a high-performing team that is fluent in AI-assisted workflows — setting the expectation that every team member uses AI tools daily and continuously improves their models.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and collaboration — balancing speed with precision.
• Partner closely with senior leadership to turn insights into strategic actions that drive business results.
• Champion an "AI + human-in-the-loop" operating model: AI handles data processing, pattern recognition, and scenario generation; planners bring judgment, context, and cross-functional relationships to highest risk and complexity decisions.

Sales & Operational Planning

• Own and evolve the S&OP cadence to ensure alignment across Sales, Merch, Finance, and Operations.
• Drive visibility into inventory risks and opportunities across channels and product lines, using AI-generated scenario analysis to pressure-test plans.
• Ensure business leaders have clear, timely visibility into forecast accuracy, inventory health, and investment decisions.

Analytics & Business Insights

• Develop dashboards and reporting structures that highlight key performance drivers across channels and categories.
• Use AI tools to analyze trends, identify root causes of variance, and proactively recommend adjustments to improve efficiency and margin.
• Turn complex data into actionable insights that help the business make confident, fast decisions.
• Continuously iterate on forecasting accuracy — leveraging AI to back-test models, measure and improve MAPE, identify blind spots, and refine assumptions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics or a related quantitative field.
• Must be an AI-first thinker and operator — someone who instinctively reaches for Claude, ChatGPT, or similar tools to accelerate analysis, build models, and solve problems. Experience building AI-assisted workflows, automation, or agents is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in operations/strategy/consulting/analytics with demonstrated systems-building.
• Proven track record of building or transforming processes, not just operating within them.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or optimizing complex tools and systems (e.g., ERP, BI, forecasting, or allocation platforms).
• Skilled in Excel/Google Sheets; strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communicator — able to drive clarity, alignment, and action across teams.
• Thrives in ambiguity and can adapt quickly to changing business needs.
• Comfortable working in a "human-in-the-loop" model where AI handles heavy data lifting and you bring the judgment and business context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Startup or high-growth company experience — able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Experience in apparel industries or consumer products.
• Experience with ERP (e.g. NetSuite), BI (e.g., Looker, Daasity) or demand planning tools (e.g. Anaplan).
• Hands-on experience using LLMs (Claude, GPT) for data analysis, forecasting, or operational workflows — not just familiarity, but demonstrated daily use.
• Experience managing or building offshore/distributed teams.

Workplace Arrangement

Hybrid — 3x week in office in Calabasas, Mon-Wed

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation

• $150k-$180k + performance bonus

Time Off

• Unlimited PTO and sick time

Health & Wellness

• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• $100/month Wellness Stipend
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Work & Growth Support

• $100/month Work From Home Stipend

Perks

• $1,000/year True Classic merchandise allowance
• 401(k) plan with 3% company match

True Classic is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and support differences in race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, and abilities. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact Human Resources.

At True Classic , our purpose is simple: empower everyone to look good and feel good.

Founded in 2019, we're a fast-growing apparel brand obsessed with fit, quality, and impact. But we're building more than great products—we're building a high-performance team where smart, driven people do meaningful work, move fast, and see the direct results of what they create.

Everything we do is guided by the True Classic Operating System (TCOS)—the principles that shape how we work, make decisions, and win together:

• Move the Needle – Our #1 value and the ultimate filter for decision-making. We focus on delivering tangible, measurable results that drive real business impact.
• Paint the Picture – We set clear vision and help others see what great looks like.
• Seek the Truth – We use data, customer insight, and curiosity to guide decisions.
• Get 1% Better – We continuously improve how we work through strong systems and small wins.
• Build Leverage – We maximize impact with the right mix of people, tools, automation, and AI.
• Crush the Challenge – We surface problems early and take ownership to solve them.
• Go Fast – We take initiative, move with urgency, and bias toward action.
• Be Creative – We challenge the norm and find better ways to win.
• Lead with Empathy – We care deeply about our customers and each other.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, take ownership of your work, and want to build something that actually moves the needle—join us and help shape what's next at True Classic!