Strategy Consultant – Allocation & Replenishment

Job Description

Spearhead bi-weekly performance evaluations of allocation alongside brand planning teams, focusing on service levels, sales figures, gross margin in dollars and percentage, GMROI, sell-through rates, and the precision of allocations. Present insightful KPI analyses, identifying the underlying reasons behind performance—not just what occurred, but why, and the strategies being implemented to address it. Develop comprehensive quarterly business overviews for executive leaders, summarizing allocation performance trends and offering strategic recommendations. Utilize current dashboards and alert systems to monitor allocation results across all brands, down to the individual store-SKU level. In instances where tools are insufficient, collaborate with the technical department to create or improve necessary resources. Detect potential issues early, such as declining sell-through, excess inventory in incorrect store locations, or stockout patterns indicative of model or grading problems. Dissect KPI deficiencies to identify causes related to demand (forecast accuracy, trend changes) and supply (misallocation, replenishment delays, packaging constraints) to pinpoint actionable root problems. Evaluate outcomes across different product lifecycles (basics, seasonal basics, fashion) and customize diagnostic methods to fit each category. Convert diagnostic results into specific vendor enhancement requests with transparent success metrics, encouraging vendors to refine their models based on data evidence. Establish requirements for internal diagnostic tools and partner with the technical team to prioritize their development. Guide brand planning teams on allocation strategy decisions, including store eligibility, DC holdback amounts, size curve adjustments, and replenishment management at the season's end. Take ownership of the vendor accountability system, overseeing the RACI matrix, tracking vendor action percentages, and escalating issues as needed. Maintain consistent, proactive communication with stakeholders, providing timely insights and recommendations without being prompted. Cultivate trust as a dedicated partner, reassuring brands that their business is closely monitored and their interests are actively supported. Oversee the communication strategy during the transition from the old consulting approach, showcasing early achievements, setting achievable goals, and fostering confidence in the new system.

Qualifications

1. Possess over 10 years of strategy consulting expertise, with a preference for experience serving retail clients. 2. Exhibit a thorough understanding of retail allocation and replenishment procedures, recognizing the variations in strategies for basics, seasonal basics, and fashion/trend items. 3. Demonstrate proficiency in retail KPIs, including service level, sell-through, WOS, GMROI, allocation accuracy, markdown rate, and the impact of allocation decisions on each. 4. Display strong analytical reasoning; capable of promptly spotting anomalies in performance dashboards and investigating further. 5. Have exceptional communication and executive presence, comfortable presenting to a VP of Merchandising and mentoring junior team members. 6. Hold an MBA or equivalent advanced degree, or possess equivalent depth of experience in strategy and analytics. Preferred: - Have direct experience at a multi-brand fashion retailer (specialty, department store, or fast fashion). - Possess a background that includes both operator experience (retailer-side) and advisory experience (consulting or vendor-side). - Be familiar with statistical concepts used in allocation diagnostics, such as forecast accuracy metrics (MAPE, bias), variance decomposition, and demand signal analysis. - Have experience in building or managing small teams and working with contingent/contract technical resources. - Be comfortable with ambiguity and creating a function from scratch; this position involves writing the playbook, not following one. - Have experience working with third-party allocation/planning vendors and managing vendor performance.

Benefits

- Significant opportunities for career advancement will arise as the company expands. - The role provides a distinct chance to contribute to a compact, rapidly growing, challenging, and entrepreneurial setting, with substantial individual autonomy. - Tiger Analytics adheres to equal employment standards for all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.