Senior Director, Planning & Imports

The Senior Director, Planning and Import Operations is a strategic leadership role responsible for end-to-end alignment across forecasting, procurement, transportation, customs compliance, and fulfillment to drive service excellence, cost efficiency, and operational scalability. The Senior Director will lead cross-functional collaboration across Supply Chain, Merchandising, Finance, Sales, and Global Logistics partners to optimize inventory flow.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term supply chain strategies aligned with company growth objectives.
• Oversee demand forecasting models and tools. Align supply plans with production, procurement, and capacity constraints. Mitigate supply chain risks through scenario planning and contingency strategies.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as sell-through, margin, and inventory productivity.
• Direct international freight operations (ocean, air, intermodal). Ensure compliance with U.S. Customs regulations and global trade requirements. Manage relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and global suppliers. Oversee landed cost analysis and duty optimization strategies. Monitor port performance, lead times, and inbound transportation KPIs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers, analysts, and inventory specialists. Serve as a key liaison between various functions, including merchandising, marketing, finance, and supply chain.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 to 12 years of experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or a related field is expected, with several years in a leadership or management role.
• Industry knowledge in retail supply chains, consumer behavior, international markets and trends.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful merchandise planning strategies and inventory control management.

Required Skills

• Advanced proficiency in retail planning systems and ERP platforms.
• Expertise in data analysis and visualization tools such as Microsoft Excel, etc.
• Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of retail financial metrics and KPIs.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills with internal stakeholders & partners, vendors and suppliers.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to drive decision-making and identify opportunities with actionable recommendations.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor, and manage teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing market.

Education: Bachelor’s degree or extensive work experience in the field. Preferred focus in business, finance, supply chain or related field.

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