» Director, Replenishment and Allocation
Karabus Management Inc.Position Description
Title: Director, Replenishment and Allocation
Reports to: Senior Director or Managing Director
Company Profile
Karabus Management is a boutique retail consulting firm, in business since 1990 and has grown to be one of the largest and most respected specialized retail consulting firms in North America. Karabus was acquired in 2008 by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Canada in order better leverage a large number of client relationships on both sides of the acquisition and significantly grow retail advisory services for both Karabus and PwC. Karabus works with retailers in most key sectors (Specialty, Big-Box, Grocery, Department Store, and Mass Merchants) in all business situations (healthy, underperforming or troubled).
Position Objective
The Director, Replenishment and Allocation is responsible for leading a team of consultants in the areas of Merchandising Operations reviews, process redesign and system selection/implementation, specifically to successfully manage and execute consulting engagements (which includes developing proposals and initiatives, establishing our strategic approach to the assignment, working on project engagements and developing service offerings). The Director’s primary focus will be on inventory optimization (forecasting, replenishment, allocation) processes and systems, advanced analytics and business intelligence. This is not an “ivory tower leadership position” - Directors at Karabus are “content collaborators” as they successfully manage and lead project work.
Responsibilities
Primary
- Lead a team of consultants in client project settings - responsible for overall project success and direction
- Drive improved client performance through leadership and provision, of content and advise on client inventory management
- Analyze retailer processes, organizations and systems and recommend improvements. Implement recommended changes with accountability for actual client results
- Establish best practices for the standards of store allocation and replenishment - seasonal conversion, aged inventory, marketing preparation, new store openings / store closings, store capacity planning and item / assortment plans
- Contribute to the development of the Replenishment and Allocation service line, playing a critical role in developing the Merchandise Optimization Practice
- Build the consulting and retail industry skills of existing team members through mentoring, project oversight, performance assessment and team building
- Recruit new team members and integrate into practice
- Establish, assess and monitor critical success factors for these service lines and the practice
Secondary
- Contribute towards the maintenance of an effective lead / proposal management process
- Develop relationships with existing clients that result in new and continuing business
- Assist in the development and delivery of new and / or expanded related strategies and service offerings
Qualifications
We are looking for a bright, versatile and energetic individual, whose skills are heavily weighted towards a strong knowledge of inventory management, supply chain, and replenishment processes.
To this role you will bring:
General
- Superior business acumen
- Sound leadership, managing and mentoring skills
- Articulate communicator with proven interpersonal skills
- Ability to discuss business and IT related issues with non-technical executives
- Strategic orientation and decision-making skills
- Demonstrated ability to act as a change agent at both initiation and implementation stages
- Analytic abilities to process, digest and disseminate information used in determining strategy and influencing decision-making
- Proven business development, engagement implementation and team-building skills
- A pragmatic philosophy coupled with a hands-on approach to professional services arena
- A committed team player with strong dedication to the customer and the company’s culture expectations
- Proven record to manage multiple engagements at any one time, and to work to deadlines and budget
- Ability to operate effectively in a non-hierarchical, high-growth organization
Retail
- Expertise in quickly identifying and defining process requirements that are foundational to selecting solutions that support replenishment, forecasting, product flow, and inventory control
- Skills in operating and managing the replenishment function for a large retailer
- Experience focused on fashion sectors of the retail industry such as department store and specialty apparel (experience in other segments including “Big Box”, grocery, mass, drug would also be valued);
- Strong financial aptitude with in-depth knowledge of merchandising metrics, assortment planning, and key performance indicators and drivers in the retail market place
- A track record of using retail data to diagnose limitations on profitability and successfully implement changes that drive Gross Margin and Sales
- At least 2 years of retail consulting and at least 3 years retail experience in Planning, Allocation and Replenishment functions, including experience at Director level (functional leadership level) or above
- Experience selecting, implementing and / or managing leading Merchandising technologies (either consulting or as a retail project lead) including some of the following: SAP, JDA / Arthur, i2, E3, MMS, Oracle/Retek, SAS/MarketMax, Manhattan Associates (Evant)
- As our clients are retailers based across North America, extensive travel is required. On average, 3-4 days per week of travel will be required.
Education
4 year degree, MBA, or other advanced degree a plus
If you believe you are just what we are looking for, please apply for this role on the PwC career website.
For more information on our company please visit www.karabus.com