Senior Manager of Category Management Planning, Analytics & Operations

Title: Senior Manager of Category Management Planning, Analytics & Operations

Reports to: Senior Vice President of Category Management Watches

Division: Category Management-Watches

The Senior Manager of Category Management Planning, Analytics & Operations is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the end-to-end inventory planning, order management, and operational execution processes that support the Category Management function. Acting as a player-coach, this role leads the Category Management Operations while providing advanced planning, forecasting, allocation, and analytical support to the buying organization. The incumbent serves as the organization's technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Dynamics 365 (D365), Power BI, and Board planning software, leveraging data, systems, and insights to drive operational excellence, inventory optimization, and informed decision-making.

This role is accountable for managing the operational backbone of Category Management, ensuring efficient execution of critical processes, continuous improvement initiatives, and cross-functional projects. Working closely with Category Managers and key stakeholders across Sales, Logistics, CRM, POS, and Project Management teams, the Senior Manager serves as a strategic business partner, translating business objectives into scalable operational processes and actionable analytics.

Strategic Planning & Allocation Analysis
• Provide complex planning and allocation analysis to the buying team to optimize inventory investment, improve sell-through, and maximize returns.
• Partner with Category Managers and leadership to build robust OTB (Open-to-Buy), model stock, and assortment plans using Board planning software.
• Translate macro-level performance data into localized stock distribution strategies, proactively mitigating global overstock, stock aging, and stock-out risks.
• Monitor, support and analyze inventory levels to meet customer demand while minimizing carrying costs and stock-outs by providing suggestions to optimize stock efficiency to Category Managers
• Review stock KPIs, track performance and analyze data to identify trends and areas for improvement and suggest necessary action to Category Manager.
• Conducting reviews on model stock, procurement and collection management configurations and challenging Category Managers.

Business Intelligence & Systems Leadership (SME)
• Serve as the primary developer and architect for operational dashboards in Power BI, converting raw system data into scalable, self-service tools while collaborating with the global team to ensure full alignment with established global design templates and data standards.
• Own the administration, configuration, and optimization of Board planning software, ensuring data flows seamlessly between enterprise systems.
• Act as the functional Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Dynamics 365 (Commerce/Supply Chain), establishing best practices for data integrity, pricing lifecycles, and order management.

Managing Complex & Critical Category Management Processes
• Regularly review and check master data information and follow-up with Category Managers (e.g. pricing, sales push activities)

• Continuously evaluate supply chain processes and identify opportunities for improvement, implementing best practices and lean principles where applicable
  • Challenge and optimize key processes within merchandising, buying, logistics and any other operations functions.

Leadership & Operational Oversight
• Supervise, mentor, and develop the category management operations, establishing clear KPIs and ensuring flawless execution of daily purchasing, allocation, and master data workflows.
• Lead and manage projects within Category Management team.
• Work closely with other departments such as Sales, Marketing, Logistics, Finance, CRM, and Project Team to align activities and facilitate communication and collaboration.
• Act as the senior escalation point for supply chain, logistics, and master data bottlenecks, collaborating directly with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee consignment agreements, high-value vendor return frameworks, and inventory reconciliation standards.

Qualifications:

• 5-7+ years of experience in retail merchandise operations, planning, or inventory management, with at least 2+ years in a supervisory role.
  • Proven, expert-level proficiency in Dynamics 365 (D365), Power BI (DAX, data modeling, dashboard development), and Board (or equivalent enterprise planning software like Anaplan or o9).
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and retail math; demonstrated capability to translate complex datasets into actionable buying and allocation directives.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Data Analytics, or a related field.

Salary Range: $105,000 - $120,000

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons shall have the opportunity to be considered for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, gender, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Originally posted on Himalayas