Manager, Allocation

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Allocation Manager owns the analysis and maintenance of assortment strategies for his/her businesses. The Allocation Manager drives the relationships with Merchants and business partners and is accountable for ensuring the Merchant’s vision for his/her assigned business is executed. The Allocation Manager independently translates broad Merchant priorities and guidelines into actions for his/her team and ensures the clear communication of business nuances to Receipt Management (e.g., Allocation Management, Hotel Sku Management) to guide execution. The Allocation Manager works with business partners and his/her team to identify opportunities & make recommendations to improve existing processes. The Allocation Manager supervises the work of his/her direct reports and holds his/her direct reports accountable for achieving assigned goals. The Allocation Manager develops his/her direct reports through providing coaching, feedback, and training.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Assortment Management

• Lead and support the management of assortment strategies for his/her assigned businesses including, ensuring appropriate analysis is being completed

• Manage the execution of analysis for assessment of new store needs, plan achievement, below class assortments, limited lists, UFBG, scorecard assessment, and additional assortment related analysis

• Ensure his/her team is effectively supporting associates and Merchants including resolving issues in a timely manner and proactively minimizing future issues

• Analyze and understand broad implications of assortment strategies on business objectives and communicate implications to his/her team and/or assigned Merchants

• Manage the analysis and assortment activities to support the execution of seasonal build and other seasonal strategies

• Drive pre-receipt and seasonal reviews to ensure action oriented opportunities are being identified and implemented at the class and below class levels

• Ensure APX is used to manage the assortment through targeted inputs; analysis performance and ensure inputs are appropriately adjusted

• Align the workload of his/her team to effectively support assortment goals

Communication

• Drive cross department communication (e.g., Receipt Management, Allocation Operations, Location Planning, Merchandise Control, Merchant Operations, etc.) to ensure accurate execution of assortment strategies and business objectives

• Drive communication with business partners and Merchants to establish and/or achieve assortment goals

• Ensure strategies and goals, including business nuances, are clearly communicated to direct reports, Receipt Management (e.g., Allocation Management and Non Sell Management), and other business partners as needed

• Provide Director, Merchant, and/or business partner status updates (e.g., findings and recommendations) on assortment goals and strategies

People Management

• Provide coaching and feedback to direct reports on daily tasks

• Follow up on career development and coaching in a timely manner

• Conduct and manage the performance processes to identify key areas for associate development, ensuring fair and time-bound measurement and assessment of goals throughout focal year

• Partner with associates to develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that supports them in developing key areas and achieving career goals

COMPETENCIES:

• Communicates Effectively

• Ensures Accountability & Execution

• Manages Conflict

• Business Acumen

• Collaboration

• Plans, Aligns, and Prioritizes

• Organizational Agility

• Developing Talent

• Building Effective Teams

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required

• 5-7 years of experience in an allocation role

• 1-3 years’ experience managing people

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ADA:

Job requires ability to work in an office environment, primarily on a computer.

Requires sitting, standing, walking, hearing, talking on the telephone, attending in-person meetings, typing, and working with paper/files, etc.

Consistent timeliness and regular attendance.

Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assortment Analyst

Sr. Assortment Analyst