Implus Footcare, LLC is an industry-leading global consumer packaged goods company with 20+ brands in footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. Implus is headquartered in Research Triangle Park in Durham, NC with locations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, and South Africa. Our brand family includes Balega, Harbinger, TriggerPoint, Perfect, Sport-Brella, DryGuy, SKLZ, RockTape, Sof Sole, Stabil, Spenco, Yaktrax, Apara, Airplus, Sneaker Balls, Sof Comfort, Little Hotties, Forcefield. From insoles, socks, and shoe care to fitness equipment and seasonal accessories, Implus' products are sold in over 80,000 retail locations across North America and in over 70 countries worldwide.
At Implus we are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture. We encourage & value different perspectives and are seeking a Hosiery Planner Analyst who shares our commitment to inclusivity and enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Hosiery Planning Analyst plays a vital, strategic role in optimizing inventory efficiency, driving sales alignment, and maximizing gross margin performance across the Everyday Hosiery department. This role is responsible for demand planning, inventory analysis, and forecasting across traditional retail brick-and-mortar accounts and wholesale programs.
The Planner Analyst collaborates cross-functionally with Merchandisers, Key Account Managers, Merchandisers, Sourcing, and Operation teams to align supply with demand, manage Go-to-Market (GTM) calendars, and maintain healthy Weeks of Supply (WOS) across wholesale accounts. The ideal candidate balances strong analytical capabilities and financial acumen with collaborative communication skills to turn raw retail and partner performance data into strategic, actionable business decisions.
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Essential Job Function:
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Retailer Inventory Management & Weekly Reporting
- Weekly Retailer Reporting: Lead the consolidation, formatting, and publication of weekly inventory reports specifically designed for key national accounts, tracking inventory levels, Weeks of Supply (WOS), and point-of-sale (POS) data.
- Performance Analysis: Monitor and analyze product- and category-specific sales velocities and inventory positions to partner with sales representatives on proactive, data-driven inventory action plans.
- Strategic Account Support: Translate complex sales and account performance data into clear, actionable commercial recommendations for retail partners.
S&OP, Demand Forecasting & Inventory Optimization
- S&OP & Buy Execution: Prepare for and actively participate in regular Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings to review and confirm inventory buys by SKU and retailers, ensuring precise alignment with sales forecasts.
- Consolidated Forecast Communication: Consolidate and communicate demand and inventory forecasts to senior leadership across commercial, merchandising, sourcing, and operation teams to maintain corporate-wide alignment.
- Monthly Planning Leadership: Serve as a key stakeholder in monthly meetings with operations and planning teams to review on-hand inventory levels and future forecasted inventory.
- Demand & Safety Stock Modeling: Build and refine SKU-level demand forecasts utilizing historical sales trends, retailer POS data, and partner forecasts to establish safety stock levels and optimal factory ETAs.
- Replenishment Strategy: Communicate clear forecasting and replenishment strategies across channels to support efficient distribution networks and minimize stockouts.
Cross-Functional Planning & GTM Alignment
- Strategic Commercial Integration: Partner cross-functionally with commercial management and merchandising to ensure the inventory forecast is strategically aligned with key product initiatives and distribution plans.
- Account & Channel Collaboration: Collaborate directly with key account managers and commercial leaders across the organization to ensure inventory plans accommodate unique customer needs and retail constraints.
- Booking & Trend Analysis: Analyze seasonal bookings against forecasts and on-hand inventory to formulate clear action plans and provide strategic, analytical guidance for future product planning.
- GTM Operational Execution: Collaborate directly and closely with broader Planning and Operations teams to ensure inventory buys are executed in strict accordance with Go-To-Market (GTM) plans and procurement submissions meet seasonal deadlines.
Lifecycle Strategy & Inventory Exit Execution
- Seasonal Strategy Alignment: Support the seasonal Go-to-Market (GTM) process to ensure that new sock lines are structurally consistent with department strategy and validated by market trends.
- End-of-Life Strategy: Provide clear end-of-life cycle and exit strategy guidance to merchandising teams, developing liquidation strategies to minimize obsolete inventory and recover revenue
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Minimum Qualifications: Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
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- 3 to 5 years of professional planning experience in a corporate environment (specifically within demand planning, inventory planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain). Experience in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG), apparel, or footwear accessories industries is highly preferred.
- Excel Expertise: Advanced spreadsheet modeling skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, financial modeling).
- Analytics & Systems: Proven familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Sigma) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP/MRP) platforms.
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Preferred Qualifications:
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- Analytical Rigor: Exceptional ability to analyze, format, and synthesize massive numbers into clear, structured, and insightful trends.
- Collaboration & Influence: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate professionally with commercial leaders, sourcing teams, and external retail stakeholders.
- Autonomy & Agility: Demonstrated capability to operate independently under high-level "mission-style" guidance, while managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
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Education & Experience:
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Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Statistics, Business Analytics, or a closely related field
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Relevant Working Conditions & Physical Demands:
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- Visual Abilities: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus, read reports, create presentations and use a computer system.
- Hearing: Hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, vendors, and students.
- Dexterity, Grasping, Feeling: Write, type and use the telephone, copier, and computer systems.
- Mobility: Open files and operate office machines; move between departments and attend meetings across campus.
- Talking: Frequently convey detailed or important instructions and ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Lifting, Pulling, Pushing: Exert up to 50 pounds for force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
- Predictable attendance on site
- Using a standard computer keyboard and monitor
- 25 lbs. with/w/o reasonable accommodation
- Work has deadlines, multiple interruptions and may be stressful at times.
- Standard climate-controlled office setting
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Implus is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and committed to creating a diverse and inclusive company culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion/belief, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other protected status under the law. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected].
