1. Allocation Strategy & Execution Leadership 

1. Lead the development of the annual and seasonal allocation strategy for the country, translating regional inventory and financial plans into actionable, door-level execution plans. 
2. Accountable for supporting receipt flow targets and managing the timing of product flow to ensure alignment with sales trends, promotional calendars, and store cluster strategies. 
3. Direct the determination of target class penetration mixes and initial season projections to balance full-price sell through with inventory productivity. 
4. Oversee the maintenance and strategic evolution of door profiles, ensuring they accurately reflect each store’s potential, consumer demographics, and strategic role. 
5. Champion the adoption and leverage of AI-powered forecasting and allocation tools to enhance precision and efficiency in decision-making.

 

2. Inventory Management & Performance Optimization 

1. Own the country's inventory management KPIs, including Weeks of Supply (WOS), inventory turn, and stock-to sales ratios, driving continuous improvement against targets. 
2. Lead the monthly forecast review process, analyzing performance data (ST%, sales-to-stock) to provide forward looking recommendations on allocation and replenishment. 
3. Direct the application of regional product rankings to the line plan, partnering with Merchandising to balance assortments and maximize selling opportunities across all doors. 
4. Measure assortment planning effectiveness through in-depth sell-through analysis and sales-to-stock performance, identifying risks and opportunities to drive in-season course correction. 
5. Drive a test-and-learn culture, utilizing performance analytics to optimize allocation strategies, including the orchestration of product flow between DCs and doors to support in-store presentation and consumer demand. 

3. Strategic Cross-Functional Partnership 

1. Partner strategically with the Merchandising Lead to align allocation plans with buying strategies and in-season trading decisions, ensuring a cohesive end-to-end approach. 
2. Collaborate with the Planning Lead to ensure the financial plan and unit plans are executable, with a clear line of sight to sales $ and Financial Planning impacts. 
3. Build strong relationships with Logistics/Distribution leadership to coordinate shipments, manage receipt flows, and resolve supply chain issues to ensure seamless product availability. 
4. Act as the single point of accountability for the Allocation function in the country, influencing peers in Merchandising, Planning, and Retail to achieve aligned business outcomes. 

4. Team Leadership & Capability Development 

1. Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Allocation Managers and Associates, fostering a culture of accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement. 
2. Build leadership capability within the team through structured coaching, performance feedback, and targeted development plans, preparing future leaders for the organization. 
3. Develop and implement standardized allocation processes, tools, and best practices to enhance team efficiency, accuracy, and impact. 
4. Champion the use of data and analytics across the team, ensuring they have the skills and tools to translate complex data into actionable insights.

5. Change Leadership & Process Excellence 

1. Drive the adoption of new allocation methodologies, tools, and technologies, including machine learning and AI solutions, to modernize processes and drive efficacy. 
2. Lead strategic initiatives and process improvement projects within the Allocation function, challenging the status quo to optimize the flow of goods. 
3. Establish and maintain governance standards for system maintenance, data integrity, and operational execution across all allocation activities. 
4. Ensure the organization is agile and responsive to market changes, embedding flexibility into processes to capitalize on emerging trends and mitigate risks.

6. Performance Accountability & Business Impact 

1. Own the performance of the entire allocation lifecycle, from initial receipt through in-season management to final clearance, driving accountability for core KPIs. 
2. Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPI) including FP ST%, discount rates, and lost sales, proactively identifying and resolving performance gaps. 
3. Provide clear, data-driven performance reports and strategic insights to senior leadership and cross-functional partners. 
4. Foster an environment of financial and operational acumen, ensuring all allocation decisions are grounded in a solid understanding of their impact on the P&L.

Years of Relevant Experience: Minimum of 10-12 years of progressive experience in allocation, inventory management, or supply chain planning within the retail, fashion, or luxury industries, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing multiple teams. 

Education / Academic Qualification: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Merchandising, Finance, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 

Functional Knowledge:

1. Expert mastery in allocation principles, advanced inventory analytics, and strategic in-season trading strategies. 
2. Strong understanding of retail mathematics, including IMU, GM%, AUR, sell-through, and stock-to-sales ratios. 
3. Proficiency with allocation and planning systems (e.g., MFP, JDA, or similar) and retail analytics platforms (e.g.,Impact Analytics, LRDP). 
4. Demonstrated logistics literacy, including the orchestration of product flow between DCs and doors. 

Business / Industry Expertise:

1. Deep knowledge of the local retail landscape, consumer behaviors, and market dynamics within the assigned country. 
2. Understanding of Full Price (FP) and Product Replenishment Operations (PRO) business models. 
3. Strong understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle, from planning and buying through to distribution and retail execution.

Leadership / People Management:

1. Proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams, with the ability to develop managers and create a culture of accountability. 
2. Experience managing cross-functional relationships and influencing stakeholders without direct authority. 
3. Demonstrated ability to lead through change and champion new ways of working.

Problem Solving:

1. Strategic, forward-thinking mindset to anticipate market shifts, synthesize complex cross-functional data, and make decisions that balance short-term performance with long-term profitability (1–2 year horizon) 
2. Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to synthesize complex data, identify root causes, and make sound decisions under pressure. 
3. Ability to balance cost-to-assort, WOS, and inventory turns to maximize business profitability. 
4. Capable of resolving complex cross-functional trade-offs and escalating strategic issues appropriately.

Communication Skills:

1. Excellent executive communication skills, with the ability to present complex data and strategies clearly to senior leadership. 
2. Strong influencing and negotiation skills to align diverse stakeholder groups (Merchandising, Planning, Logistics, Retail) and drive cohesive action. 
3. Ability to translate technical allocation concepts into clear, actionable terms for a variety of audiences.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required; proficiency in the local language of the country is strongly preferred. 

Systems / Technical Skills:

1. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint). 
2. Advanced proficiency with enterprise allocation and planning platforms; experience evaluating and implementing new systems or AI/ML-driven tools 
3. Experience with or a passion for leveraging AI/ML tools to drive process automation and predictive analytics.

Travel Requirement: Travel may be required to distribution centers, regional offices, or other markets, estimated at 1020% of time. 
 
Preferred Qualifications

1. Prior experience in the luxury, premium, or lifestyle retail sector. 
2. Experience working within a complex matrix organization with global and regional partnerships. 
3. Track record of successfully implementing new allocation systems or process transformation initiatives. 
4. Experience managing allocation across multiple channels, including e-commerce and wholesale.