Retail Inventory Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

The Allocation Manager leads merchandise allocation for 90+ retail stores, ensuring optimal inventory levels to drive sales and maximize in-stock performance. This role manages weekly replenishments, monitors store inventory, and develops seasonal allocation strategies to support sell-through and business goals.

Working closely with Buying, Operations, and Store teams, the Allocation Manager oversees deliveries, transfers, and inventory consolidations while analyzing store performance and inventory productivity. Responsible for key KPIs—including in-stock rates, sell-through, and weeks of stock—the role ensuresdata-driven decision-making to optimize inventory flow and support store success.

 

This is a hybrid position, with an expectation of working in the office three days per week .

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of allocations of merchandise to 90+ brick mortar stores to ensure accurate inventory levels.
• Establish inventory monitoring plans and processes to support weekly replenishment demand, in line with forecasted sales, inventory targets, and budget.
• Lead store in stocks, Distribution Center (DC) stockouts, and non-model inventory, raising issues to Buying / Director as needed
• Develop key allocation strategies and approaches to drive sell-through and increase sales on a seasonal basis
• Responsible for store merchandise delivery, transfers, RTVs, and RAs to ensure optimal storeinventory levels
• Conduct analysis on store capacities (as needed basis)
• Work closely with the Operations team to monitor DC outbound performance on a weekly basis
• Collaborate with Director / DC management on weekly DC forecast, special projects, and priorities
• Execute ad hoc Purchase Order submission to the vendor, with alignment from Buying
• Collaborate with the Buying Lead to create in-season inventory consolidations between other channels and stores to enhance sales opportunities
• Monitor product lifecycle and store inventory levels to reduce store close-out inventory along with Buying Lead
• Develop allocations strategy for new store openings/moves, promotions, and expos/events
• Communicate regularly with stores, district managers and Operating Partners to find opportunities and share information cross-functionally
• Review category store sales and store region performance weekly
• Participate in quarterly market/store travel
• Participate in numerous expos/events support
• Analyze in-store app results to help support store allocations and assortment adjustments

Accountable KPIs

• Inventory Forecast vP (variance to plan)
• Weeks of Stock
• Sell-Through %
• Instock % + OO Instock %
• Report Ownership
• Weekly Store Performance report
• Weekly Allocations Recap report
• Weekly Inventory Productivity report

Qualifications

• 5+ years of multi retail door & multi-distribution purchasing experience required.
• RICS Point of Sale experience preferred
• NetSuite experience preferred
• Experience with Toolio or another allocation tool preferred
• Strong eye for business and retail industry knowledge
• Ability to think strategically about issues and opportunities to accurately assess impacts
• Problem solver who enjoys challenges and takes pride in crafting the right solution
• Excellent communicator with the ability to listen and adapt
• Communicates professionally with the team, stores, and vendors
• Assertive self-starter with strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Willing to go above and beyond when needed
• Retail store/market travel expected, 25% travel
• Carrboro, NC based with flexible working days/hours