Allocation Manager

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled Allocation Manager to lead and optimize the distribution of products, inventory, resources, capacity, and capital across multiple channels and markets. This fully remote, full-time position is based in the United Arab Emirates and targets mid- to senior-level professionals who thrive in data-driven environments focused on supply chain and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and execute allocation strategies, including inventory deployment plans and resource distribution frameworks to meet commercial and operational goals.
• Oversee the allocation of stock, equipment, capacity, and other business resources across various locations such as stores, warehouses, and distribution centers.
• Analyze data including historical sales, demand forecasts, inventory status, seasonality, product lifecycles, customer behavior patterns, and market trends to inform allocation decisions.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams such as Merchandising, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Sales, Finance, Operations, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Develop initial allocation, replenishment, reallocation, stock balancing, and inventory redistribution methodologies to enhance product availability while minimizing surplus inventory.
• Establish allocation guidelines, including rules, priorities, thresholds, business logics, service-level standards, and procedures for handling exceptions.
• Monitor metrics such as inventory availability, sell-through rates, stock coverage, stockouts, overstocks, inventory aging, allocation accuracy, and replenishment efficiency.
• Design allocation scenarios for new product launches, seasonal campaigns, promotional events, market expansion, store openings, disruptions in supply, capacity constraints, and demand fluctuations.
• Optimize the placement of inventory considering profitability, demand potential, customer needs, logistics expenses, and service-level goals across channels and locations.
• Conduct periodic reviews of allocation performance, health of inventory, cause analysis for issues, exception handling, and continuous enhancement initiatives.
• Define and track key performance indicators including allocation accuracy, in-stock rates, sell-through, stockout rates, excess inventory levels, inventory turnover, weeks of supply, fulfillment rate, service levels, markdown exposure, and gross margin contributions.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, forecasting models, analytics tools, and decision-support mechanisms related to allocation.
• Collaborate with Finance to evaluate inventory valuation, working capital impact, margin implications, markdown risks, and investment returns.
• Align allocation strategies with logistics and distribution teams to consider warehouse capacity, transport availability, schedules, and constraints.
• Manage allocation budgets, resources, analytical tools, external consultants, technology platforms, and strategic optimization initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives including AI-based allocation, machine learning for demand forecasting, automated replenishment, predictive analytics, and real-time allocation decision-support systems.
• Leverage tools such as SAP S/4HANA, SAP IBP, Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates, Kinaxis, o9 Solutions, Anaplan, Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, Python, ERP, and warehouse management systems.
• Prepare executive-level reporting inclusive of allocation summaries, strategy presentations, performance dashboards, scenario analyses, and recommendations.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team comprising allocation analysts, inventory planners, merchandise planners, and supply chain analysts, fostering analytical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Operations Management, Merchandising, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, or Statistics.
• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, Operations Research, or an MBA is highly desirable.
• Professional certifications like APICS CSCP, CPIM, CLTD, Lean Six Sigma or comparable credentials are advantageous.
• At least 5 years of experience in allocation, inventory planning, merchandise planning, demand planning, replenishment, or related supply chain functions.
• Minimum 2 years of leadership experience managing allocation teams, inventory optimization programs, or cross-functional supply chain projects is preferred.
• Strong expertise in inventory allocation, demand forecasting, replenishment optimization, stock management, inventory economics, and supply chain operations.
• Proficiency with supply chain platforms such as SAP S/4HANA, SAP IBP, Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates, Kinaxis, o9 Solutions, Anaplan, as well as analytics tools like Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, Python.
• Knowledge of AI-driven allocation, machine learning forecasting, automated replenishment systems, predictive inventory analytics, optimization algorithms, and real-time inventory monitoring tools is highly valuable.
• Excellent analytical, leadership, stakeholder management, communication, financial acumen, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple allocation projects balancing customer demand, inventory levels, profitability, working capital, logistics constraints, operational capacities, budgets, and priorities.
• Capability to operate efficiently in a remote work environment with distributed global teams, with occasional travel required for meetings, warehouse audits, supplier assessments, and strategic planning.

What We Offer

• Fully remote work setup providing flexible collaboration across global teams in allocation, planning, supply chain, logistics, finance, and commercial domains.
• A competitive compensation package complemented by performance-linked incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits supporting health and wellness.
• Opportunities for professional growth in allocation and inventory strategy leadership.
• Exposure to advanced technologies including AI-based inventory optimization, predictive demand analytics, automated replenishment systems, and next-gen planning tools.
• A collaborative workplace culture driven by data-led decision making, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Chance to significantly influence how products and resources are distributed across markets by harnessing data insights for intelligent allocation decisions.