Director of Inventory & Planning

  Director of Inventory & Planning Reports to: EVP of Operational Innovation Location: Colorado (Remote/Hybrid) Who We Are For more than 50 years, SSA has partnered with cultural attractions to design the hospitality experience journey, freeing our partners to remain mission-focused. We bring together admissions, culinary, and retail with innovation and human connection to shape a seamless guest journey. Our focus is on people, innovation, and operational intelligence as a means to create special moments with lasting impact. We call it 452 Hospitality, the foundation of how we serve our partners and their communities. The Role This is a leadership role responsible for how inventory performs across a multi-location retail business. You will lead inventory planning, forecasting, and inventory health while directly influencing buyer decisions, vendor strategy, and financial outcomes. You will operate through a team, building capability, driving accountability, and bringing discipline to how inventory is planned, purchased, and managed. You are accountable for turning inventory into a strategic lever that improves margin, reduces waste, and supports consistent in-stock performance across diverse operating environments.   What You Will Own Inventory Strategy and Planning Own inventory performance across all retail locations including stock levels, turn rates, and in-stock execution Lead forecasting and replenishment strategy aligned to demand patterns, seasonality, and operational constraints Establish planning discipline that connects inventory decisions to financial outcomes including margin, COGS, and cash flow Drive inventory optimization across a complex, multi-location environment where demand is variable and not always predictable Buyer Partnership and Commercial Influence Partner directly with Buyers to guide purchasing decisions using data, trends, and performance insights Challenge and influence buying behavior to improve sell-through, reduce excess inventory, and protect margin Establish clear inventory guardrails that drive consistency in how buying decisions are made Align inventory plans to assortment strategy, pricing, and promotional activity Team Leadership and Capability Building Lead a layered team structure with 3 direct reports and extended teams underneath Develop managers into strong planning and inventory leaders, not just operators Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement Set clear expectations, performance metrics, and development paths for the team Inventory Health and Performance Management Own key inventory metrics including inventory turns, sell-through, aged inventory, stock-to-sales, and out-of-stock rates Drive proactive management of excess and aging inventory including liquidation strategies Implement consistent reporting that translates data into clear actions for the business Provide leadership with insight, not just data Systems and Tools (Relex) Lead adoption and optimization of the Relex inventory planning platform Ensure the system supports planning discipline, not replaces it Partner with internal teams to maintain data integrity and usability Use tools to enable better decisions, not create dependency Vendor and SKU Optimization Reduce vendor complexity and improve purchasing efficiency Support SKU rationalization efforts to eliminate underperforming products Align vendor strategy with inventory performance and financial goals   What This Role Requires 7+ years of experience in inventory planning, merchandise planning, or retail supply chain leadership Proven experience in a multi-location retail environment Experience partnering directly with Buyers and influencing purchasing decisions Strong financial acumen with the ability to connect inventory decisions to margin and business performance Experience leading teams, including developing managers and building capability Experience operating in environments that are not fully built or require structure and discipline Experience with inventory planning systems. Relex experience is a plus, not a requirement   This is by no means an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with this job description. The Company reserves the right to revise the job description or to require that other or different tasks are performed when circumstances change (i.e. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs or technological developments)   Compensation and Benefits Full-Time, Exempt $75 Cell Phone Stipend Flex Time Off: no accruals; employees are encouraged to schedule time off as needed within business scope. Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and other voluntary benefits for you and your family; employee premiums applicable. Participation in a 401(k) program with a 15% company match (must be 21 years or older, eligible after one year of employment with 1,000 hours worked, available to enroll during Open Enrollment Periods). Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability, employer sponsored; scaled-salary pay following submission and approval of leave Parental Leave: Birthing Parent Plan covers up to (6-8) weeks fully paid leave, based on the birthing event. SSA Paid Benefit: Up to 120 hours of Paid Leave for qualifying reasons, including Parental Bonding and your family’s serious medical conditions. Up to 5 days Paid Bereavement Leave On-Demand Pay Program: Get access to a portion of earned wages before payday. Meal Plan & Employee Discounts where applicable Paid sick leave is provided in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Accrual rates, caps, and usage rules vary by location. Locations include: Arizona, California, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Colorado: Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year, under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA). Maryland: Employees accrue at least 1 hour of paid sick and safe leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year, as required under the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. Washington: Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, in accordance with the Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time. SSA Holdings and its affiliated companies, including SSA Group, A&F Souvenir, Cinchio Solutions, and Behavioral Essentials, are equal opportunity employers. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. A diverse team strengthens our collective impact. All California Residents: By submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the SSA Group California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Candidate and Employee Privacy Notice ("Notice"). San Francisco Residents: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Please see the "Fair Chance Ordinance - Know Your Rights" document for more information. By submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the "Fair Chance Ordinance - Know Your Rights" document.