Demand Planner

About Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott is a vibrant and ambitious team focused on delivering stunning products alongside an exceptional customer experience. Our company values family, fashion, and philanthropy deeply. Although we operate in a fast-paced environment, fostering a family-centric workplace and giving back to the community remain fundamental. We are passionate about innovative design and maintain a strong social media presence, building a distinctive and engaging lifestyle brand across retail stores, wholesale, and e-commerce. Our headquarters is nestled in Austin, Texas, and the city’s unique energy inspires our culture and brand.

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the Demand Planning Manager, the Demand Planner role demands ownership of product-level forecasting and buying across all categories and sales channels. The role requires collaboration with cross-functional partners to align strategies, meet financial objectives, and support overarching company goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage inventory within assigned categories, including forecasting product demand and making purchasing decisions to maintain stock availability and meet turnover targets.
• Develop buying plans for both regularly replenished items and seasonal inventory.
• Align investments and purchasing plans across cross-functional teams to ensure support of key initiatives and highlighted products.
• Lead efforts in strategy formulation, performance evaluation, opportunity pursuit, and merchandise assortment adjustments.
• Handle out-of-stock monitoring, ensuring in-season items are adequately stocked at the warehouse for prompt replenishment.
• Coordinate and execute bottoms-up forecasting activities for all categories, communicating potential risks to Merchandising, Planning, and Finance partners.
• Manage SKU-level exit plans, including markdown strategies and identification of opportunities to maximize promotional and marketing efforts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to plan and execute strategies supporting Planning and Merchandising goals.
• Work closely with Merchandising on new product assortment and pricing, addressing risks and ensuring gross margin (IMU) and financial targets are met.
• Provide insights on product performance and market trends to Design and Merchandising teams to guide future assortment planning.
• Engage with channel leadership to understand and respond to inventory requirements, challenges, and opportunities.
• Develop promotional planning collaboratively with cross-functional teams, aligning financial objectives and execution strategies.
• Partner with Allocation to devise and support channel distribution strategies, reinforcing buying priorities.
• Coordinate with Retail Operations regarding employee purchasing approaches, sales contests, training material, and employee-specific orders.
• Work alongside Wholesale Management to craft buying and forecasting strategies that uphold revenue targets and inventory turnover.
• Maintain transparent, comprehensive communication across all teams, securing alignment on initiatives, strategies, and performance outcomes.
• Influence and lead discussions with cross-functional teams and senior management to unify investment and financial goals.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experience in forecasting, managing receipts, and total open-to-buy processes is essential.
• Minimum of three years in retail buying or planning, with experience in jewelry or accessories considered advantageous.
• Strong analytical capabilities and knowledge of retail mathematics and inventory management principles.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and analytical tools to evaluate business performance and drive decisions.
• Holds a 4-year college degree; a Bachelor of Science in Retail Merchandising or Business is preferred.
• Proven track record managing multiple projects, including prioritization, delegation, scheduling, and effective communication of overall objectives.
• Exemplary organizational skills with acute attention to detail and persistent follow-up.
• Excellent communication able to articulate complex issues, risks, and opportunities clearly and succinctly, employing tailored messaging for diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership qualities with experience in supporting and advancing a multi-channel organization; flexible to operate strategically or hands-on as required.

Additional Information

Kendra Scott is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, embracing diversity in the workforce.