Director of Demand Planning

Director of Demand Planning Department: Planning Employment Type: Full Time Location: Los Angeles HQ Reporting To: susan Description SKIMS is a solutions-oriented brand creating the next generation of underwear, loungewear, shapewear, and essentials. We are setting new standards by delivering technically innovative, comfort-driven products with elevated design for everybody. At the intersection of culture, innovation, and commerce, SKIMS is a global brand redefining modern apparel. Our teams are built on creativity, collaboration, and operational excellence, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive, high-performance environment where ambitious, curious, and values-driven individuals can do the best work of their careers. About the Role: The Director of Demand Planning leads the end-to-end demand planning function across all categories, with a foundational focus on core products. This role is responsible for building and leading a team of demand planners, owning the integrity of the demand forecast, and driving cross-functional alignment that connects planning to the commercial and financial goals of the business. The Director serves as the primary planning voice in OTB, merchandise financial planning, and channel strategy conversations — ensuring the forecast is actionable, accurate, and communicated with clarity across all stakeholder groups. As we continue to scale globally, our HQ teams play a critical role in shaping strategy, building world-class infrastructure, and driving sustainable growth across markets. Key Responsibilities Demand Forecast Ownership Own the weekly demand forecast review process across all categories, leveraging the demand planning tool and aligned alert configurations to identify style/SKU-level risks and opportunities Drive forecast accuracy improvement by partnering closely with Data Science to incorporate business intelligence — including promotional events, inventory transfers, new product launches, and cannibalization risk — into the statistical model Establish and maintain a cadence of forecast review that is disciplined, scalable, and actionable for downstream planning teams Define and evolve the processes, configurations, and governance standards within the demand planning tool to ensure alignment across the planning organization Cross-Functional Leadership Serve as the primary demand planning partner to Merchandising, ensuring the core forecast reflects awareness of new launches, assortment changes, and category-level dynamics that could shift baseline demand Partner with Channel Planning leads across all categories to ensure the core forecast integrates cleanly with channel-level plans for sales and inventory, and that risks and opportunities are surfaced proactively Build and maintain strong working relationships with Data Science, Merchandise Financial Planning, and Finance to ensure the forecast is both statistically sound and commercially grounded Lead and facilitate alignment in cross-functional forums — bringing a clear point of view on trend, inventory health, and forecast deviation from plan OTB & Financial Planning Lead the core product demand forecast within the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process — communicating trend versus pre-season plan, prior OTB, and inventory risk or opportunity with clarity and confidence Proactively identify situations where inventory needs exceed available OTB funding; develop aligned, solutions-oriented recommendations in partnership with Channel Planning Ensure final PO sign-off meetings are well-prepared, with all relevant stakeholders informed and risks clearly articulated prior to commitment Partner with Merchandise Financial Planning to ensure the demand forecast is reflected accurately in financial plans and that deviations are explained and resolved in a timely manner Collaborate closely with Data Analytics to ensure the forecast reflects the full context of business nuances — including promotional performance, channel mix shifts, customer behavior trends, and external market signals — translating analytical insights into meaningful forecast inputs that drive accuracy Team Leadership & Development Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of demand planners across core categories Define clear roles, responsibilities, and RACI ownership across the planning team — including accountability for core products, impact of new launch products, and channel-level plans Coach planners on both technical skills (tool proficiency, statistical thinking, OTB management) and soft skills (cross-functional communication, stakeholder influence, business acumen) Foster a culture of proactive risk identification, continuous improvement, and accountability Process & Systems Partner with Data Science and IT/Systems teams to continuously improve the demand planning tool — including model inputs, alert logic, and reporting capabilities Define KPIs for forecast accuracy, bias, and planning effectiveness; establish regular reporting cadences to track performance and drive improvement Lead the evolution of demand planning processes as the business scales across categories and channels Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Experience 8–12+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain — with at least 3–4 years in a leadership or managerial role Experience at a high-growth consumer brand, apparel, or retail company strongly preferred Proven track record managing complex, multi-category forecasts in a fast-paced, trend-driven environment Hands-on experience with demand planning tools (e.g., o9, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, Relex, or similar); ability to configure, interpret, and evolve tool outputs Experience leading cross-functional planning processes including OTB, merchandise financial planning, and PO management Skills & Competencies Strong analytical and quantitative skills — comfortable working with large datasets, statistical forecasts, and financial plans simultaneously Exceptional cross-functional communication and influencing skills; able to distill complex forecast dynamics into clear business narratives for senior stakeholders Solutions-oriented mindset — able to identify risk early, pressure-test assumptions, and drive to aligned decisions even in ambiguous situations High business acumen with an understanding of how demand planning connects to inventory investment, margin, and sell-through Organized and process-driven, with the ability to manage multiple planning cycles, stakeholder groups, and priorities concurrently People leader with a genuine passion for developing talent and building team capability Benefits, Culture and Perks Benefits and Culture Up to 100% Company Paid Healthcare (medical, dental, vision) Kind Body Fertility Benefits 401(k) savings plan with up to 4% match Unlimited PTO Full Access to LinkedIn learning Employee Discounts Perks (HQ Location) Free weekly catered lunch at HQ – M/T/W/Th Dog-Friendly office on a Thursday and Friday Free Swag Giveaways Annual Holiday Party Annual Summer Party Invitations to pop-ups and other company events Complimentary daily office snacks and beverages #J-18808-Ljbffr