Senior Director, Assortment Planning & Modeling

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Assortment Planning & Modeling is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise assortment strategy across all channels, categories, and customer segments while leading the transformation from traditional planning methodologies to AI-powered decision-making. This leader owns the development of advanced assortment optimization capabilities, predictive modeling, machine learning applications, and AI-driven decision support tools that improve inventory productivity, customer satisfaction, sales growth, and profitability. The role serves as the strategic bridge between Merchandising, Inventory Planning & Replenishment, Data Science, Supply Chain, Finance, and Technology to ensure product assortments are continuously optimized through intelligent automation, predictive analytics and scalable governance frameworks.

The Senior Director will lead and develop a high-performing team focused on building next-generation capabilities that enable the organization to place the right products in the right locations at the right time with minimal manual intervention.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Assortment Strategy

• Develop and execute the long-term enterprise assortment strategy.
• category-specific assortment frameworks across all product lines.
• Establish localized assortment strategies based on customer, vehicle, demographic, and market demand characteristics
• Lead SKU rationalization initiatives to improve inventory productivity and profitability.
• Develop lifecycle management processes for new item introductions, product substitutions, supersessions, and obsolescence.
• Partner with Merchandising leadership to align assortment decisions with enterprise growth objectives.

Advanced Analytics & Optimization

• Leverage predictive modeling, machine learning, and optimization techniques to improve assortment decisions and inventory placement.
• Develop analytical models that identify assortment gaps, duplication, cannibalization, and expansion opportunities.
• Implement data-driven frameworks that anticipate customer demand shifts and emerging market trends.
• Enable intelligent recommendation engines that support planners with scalable, explainable decision support.
• Drive autonomous assortment recommendations through advanced optimization engines.
• Establish AI governance processes that ensure explainability, transparency, and trust in automated recommendations.
• Continuously improve algorithm accuracy through feedback loops and performance monitoring.

Advanced Modeling & Data Science

• Lead development of predictive models supporting assortment, demand forecasting, inventory placement, and network optimization.
• Develop customer segmentation models that improve assortment localization.
• Establish digital twins and simulation capabilities to evaluate assortment scenarios before implementation.
• Utilize machine learning techniques to optimize SKU productivity and category performance.
• Build analytical frameworks that quantify the financial impact of assortment decisions.
• Partner with technology teams to operationalize advanced models into business workflows.

Intelligent Systems Transformation Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap of assortment planning through analytics and intelligent automation.
• Drive organizational change management and adoption of AI-driven decision-making.
• Transition planning teams from transactional analysis to strategic exception management.
• Establish governance processes that balance automation with human oversight.
• Build organizational capability around AI literacy and advanced analytics.
• Create a culture that embraces experimentation, continuous learning, and innovation.

Network & Market Optimization

• Define assortment strategies by distribution center, market, store cluster, customer segment, and channel.
• Optimize inventory placement across the supply chain network.
• Identify opportunities to improve fill rates while reducing inventory investment.
• Develop market-specific assortment strategies that maximize customer relevance.
• Utilize predictive analytics to improve inventory productivity across all stocking locations.

Financial & Performance Management

• Own assortment-related financial performance metrics.
• Establish productivity targets for assortment optimization initiatives.
• Quantify and track benefits generated from AI and advanced analytics investments.
• Develop executive-level reporting and KPI dashboards.
• Ensure assortment decisions support revenue growth, margin expansion, inventory turns, and cash flow objectives.
• Partner with Finance to measure realized value from transformation initiatives.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Inventory Planning, Technology, Data Science, Marketing, and Finance.
• Influence senior executives on strategic assortment decisions.
• Lead cross-functional steering committees focused on assortment optimization and intelligent systems adoption.
• Align enterprise stakeholders around a common assortment strategy and operating model.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing organization consisting of:
• Directors of Assortment Planning
• Assortment Strategy Managers
• Data Scientists
• Machine Learning Engineers
• Assortment Analysts
• Business Intelligence Specialists
• Build succession plans and leadership pipelines.
• Establish performance expectations focused on innovation, execution, and business impact.
• Develop future-ready capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Analytics, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in assortment planning, merchandising, inventory optimization, analytics, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years leading large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Experience implementing advanced planning systems and assortment optimization tools.
• Strong understanding of machine learning, predictive analytics, and intelligent applications in retail or distribution environments.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organizational change.
• Experience leading large cross-functional teams

Leadership

• Embodies the following values: serve, perform, influence, respect, innovate, team.
• Delivers results and drives customer success by committing and focusing on outcomes to deliver results and making the customer the center of decisions.
• Strategic Vision: Creates a future-state vision where AI and advanced analytics fundamentally improve decision quality and business performance.
• Enterprise Thinking: Balances category, customer, network, and financial objectives to optimize overall enterprise value.
• Digital & AI Leadership: Leverages emerging technologies to create sustainable competitive advantage.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses analytics, predictive modeling, and machine learning to improve business outcomes.
• Change Leadership: Successfully leads large-scale organizational transformation and adoption.
• Talent Development: Builds high-performing teams capable of operating in a highly automated, AI-enabled environment.
• Executive Influence: Communicates complex analytical concepts in ways that drive executive action and alignment.
• Innovation: Challenges traditional planning methodologies and continuously seeks new opportunities to improve performance through technology and automation.

Physical Demands / Working Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing and operating office equipment
• Occasional standing and walking during meetings or site visits
• Ability to travel (air and ground) as required for business needs
• Ability to lift up to 15-25 pounds occasionally (e.g., laptop bag, materials)
• Visual acuity to review documents, data, and presentations
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, via phone, and in virtual settings

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