Allocator (Full-Time)
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia – role is onsite, no remote option
*Relocation assistance offered
The Allocator plays a critical role in ensuring the right product is in the right place at the right time. This in-person position, based at our headquarters in Charlottesville, VA, partners closely with Planning, Merchandising, and Operations to optimize inventory levels, support sales goals, and maintain a best-in-class customer experience across all channels.
Reporting to the Planning Manager, the Allocator will manage day-to-day allocation activities, analyze performance data, and support the development of scalable processes that can grow with the business. This is a highly visible role suited for an analytical, detail-oriented self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to help drive continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Execute inventory allocations to stores and channels based on demand, sales trends, and inventory strategies.
- Monitor product performance and stock levels, making timely replenishment and reallocation decisions to maximize sales and minimize stockouts and overstock.
- Partner with Planning and Merchandising to understand assortment strategies, flow plans, and seasonal needs, ensuring alignment across channels.
- Develop and maintain allocation tools, reports, and analyses to support data-driven decision-making.
- Identify underperforming and overperforming products, sizes, and locations, and recommend allocation actions to optimize results.
- Support new product launches, promotions, and key events with thoughtful allocation strategies.
- Continuously refine and improve allocation methodologies, processes, and system parameters for scale and efficiency.
- Collaborate with Operations and Logistics to understand constraints, lead times, and capacity, and incorporate them into allocation plans.
- Communicate clearly with cross-functional partners on allocation decisions, risks, and opportunities.
Must-Have Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum 2 years of merchandise/retail allocation or related experience, preferably in apparel.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills with close attention to detail.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort building models and analyses.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent internal and external communication skills.
- Self-starter with a “no-task-too-small” attitude and high integrity.
Preferred Experience & Attributes
- Experience with merchandise planning, forecasting, or retail operations.
- Proven ability to design, document, and improve scalable allocation processes.
- Strong problem-solving skills and adaptability to evolving business needs.
- Strategic thinker who leverages data-driven insights to guide decisions.
- Experience in a high-growth company or retail brand environment.
This role is ideal for someone who is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and eager to contribute to a growing brand’s success by ensuring product is optimally placed to meet demand and drive performance.
