Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today. At New Balance, We Got Now.
JOB MISSION:
Lead the vision of the planning function by developing and maintaining processes that quickly identify and understand sales trends, leading to a solutions-based approach to positively impact opportunity / risk across the orderbook. Join in season findings with strong customer relationships to influence, shape and control future sales planning across all categories & key partners.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
1. Support senior leadership team in effective data driven decision making aligned with both our immediate budgets & our long-range plan targets.
2. Serve as primary planning point of contact for the UK subsidiary.
3. Accountable for the delivery of clean sales forecast signals into the central EMEA business supplemented with clean context and suggested actions.
4. Working with the Senior Commercial Planning manager EMEA, enforce with standardized NB ways of working across the markets.
5. Promote a data driven culture, integrating central business reporting with market levels needs.
6. Identify marginal gains and impact to future plans.
7. Build strong relationships with customers merchandising leads to collaborate and help drive efficient decision making.
8. Support and review methodology at account level, developing planning strategies that balance customers’ expectations and NB objectives.
9. Drive operational excellence, particularly around sales forecasting.
10. Support the wider team with developing a strategic understanding.
Your day-to-day
11. Provide complete insight & direction into the build & analyze weekly sell through reports from our data provider (SPS).
12. Develop planning tools to seamlessly bridge Vanguard, UK orderbook, Range Plan & Game Plan needs.
13. Work closely with the finance partner on monthly budget and forecast process.
14. Develop and maintain category specific planning KPI’s offering support in delivery through Senior Business Planner.
15. Develop Sales & Opportunities (S&OP) processes, understanding where opportunities & risk exists.
16. Support a healthy P&L blending margin support & optimal levels of business by account.
17. Help quantify levels of investment to drive healthy sales pacing.
18. Help review channel range controls & LRP sharing insights and recommendation cross category.
19. Own formal reviews of our main Global forecasting tool (Vanguard) – understanding rollups & review of forecast accuracy & bias.
20. Identify and own Inventory Support decision making and control of stock turn.
21. Monitor holistic stock, sales and intake processes to understand sales pacing at channel level.
22. Support monthly trade meets, providing key performance indicators including comparison of actuals against forecasts along with insights and recommendations.
23. Collaborate with Demand Planning / Sales Managers / Retail Team to secure inventory based on sell through and product availability.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS
24. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
25. IT literate – Microsoft Office skills - especially proficient in Microsoft Excel
26. Dynamic leader with the ability to create strong cross functional partnerships across all levels
27. Great teammate who leads by example
28. Commercial foresight and positive relationship skills
29. Remain up to date with industry’s best practices.
30. Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills
31. Excellent organisation skills with attention to detail
32. Strong follow-up skills and time management
BENEFITS:
33. Discretionary Bonus Opportunity
34. Private Medical Insurance
35. Dental Scheme
36. Pension Scheme
37. Flexible Working Hours (07:00 – 10:00 start, 15:00 -18:00 finish)
38. Hybrid working (3 days on-site)
39. 25 days Annual Leave per year
40. Life Insurance
41. On Site Gym
42. Employee Discount
43. Opportunity to work abroad for four weeks per year
44. Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)