Capability Lead Planning & Inventory Management is responsible for shaping demand and inventory planning strategies across multiple business areas. The role translates financial objectives merchandising strategies consumer demand signals and supply chain considerations into forward-looking plans that drive sales profitability product availability and inventory productivity.
Capability Lead provides strategic direction on forecasting and inventory decisions across multiple planning horizons. This role identifies enterprise-level risks and opportunities leads complex scenario planning and influences senior partners across Merchandise Planning Inventory Management Buying Supply Chain Data Science Technology and other teams across Target India and Minneapolis.
As a subject matter expert he/she leads in advancing forecasting methodologies planning capabilities operating models and decision-making practices. The role drives high-impact initiatives and drives scalable improvements that strengthen Planning & Inventory Management capabilities and business performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop demand and inventory planning strategies across multiple categories or business segments.
- Establish performance expectations and improvement strategies for Forecast Value Add wMAPE Bias and other relevant planning metrics.
- Operates independently with broad decision authority and high judgment
- Provide functional leadership for forecast development measurement and improvement across multiple planning horizons and levels of aggregation.
- Translate enterprise priorities financial goals merchandising strategies and market signals into actionable planning directions.
- Provide a consolidated view of demand inventory and business performance to support strategic decisions across stores and digital channels.
- Incorporate early performance signals shortlifecycle indicators trend shifts weather and promotional response into planning and inventory decisions.
- Lead scenario and sensitivity planning for significant demand shifts constrained supply promotions seasonal events assortment changes and other critical business moments.
- Establish planning priorities and decision frameworks that balance sales growth profitability availability inventory productivity and business risk.
- Guide the integration of statistical forecasts with promotional seasonal product lifecycle financial market and merchandising insights.
- Evaluate forecast performance across business areas and identify systemic trends model limitations process gaps and improvement opportunities.
- Provide direction to the larger team on allocation replenishment inventory positioning and availability decisions.
Business Analytics & Decision Support
- Lead advanced analysis of sales demand inventory margin availability forecast performance and other key business indicators.
- Synthesize complex data and business context into clear insights strategic recommendations and executive-level narratives.
- Identify systemic drivers of forecast misses inventory imbalances and performance gaps and lead cross-functional resolution plans.
- Evaluate alternative business strategies using scenario analysis financial impact assessment and risk-based decision frameworks.
- Define analytical approaches and performance measures that improve planning visibility and support timely decisions.
- Ensure insights are translated into actions with clear ownership expected outcomes and performance tracking.
Cross-Functional & Enterprise Influence
- Serve as a strategic planning advisor to senior leaders and cross-functional partners across India and Minneapolis.
- Lead senior-level planning reviews and decision forums clearly articulating business drivers assumptions risks opportunities trade-offs and recommendations.
- Influence alignment when financial objectives merchandising strategies supply chain constraints and operational forecasts differ.
- Build strong partnerships across Planning Inventory Management Supply Chain Data Science Technology and capability teams.
- Represent Planning & Inventory Management in enterprise initiatives and ensure planning perspectives are incorporated into broader business decisions.
- Navigate complex or ambiguous situations by establishing clarity aligning stakeholders and driving timely resolution.
Capability Development & Functional Leadership
- Serve as a subject matter expert in demand forecasting inventory strategy scenario planning and planning performance management.
- Establish standards frameworks tools and best practices that strengthen planning consistency and decision quality.
- Coach and develop Planners and Associate Planners through technical guidance business context and structured feedback.
- Build forecasting and analytical capabilities across the team through knowledge sharing training and practical application.
- Provide functional direction to project teams and planning partners ensuring alignment with business priorities and expected outcomes.
- Promote a culture of ownership curiosity collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Define and lead the planning capability roadmap for assigned business areas or strategic priorities.
- Lead enterprise initiatives that improve forecasting methodologies inventory planning processes operating models data and technology.
- Partner with Data Science Product Technology and capability teams to define and translate business requirements into scalable planning solutions.
- Sponsor pilots and oversee testing implementation adoption and measurement of new planning capabilities.
- Identify opportunities to automate repetitive activities simplify workflows and increase planner capacity for strategic decision-making.
- Establish change management and governance approaches that support sustained adoption of new tools and processes.
- Measure the business impact of transformation initiatives and ensure improvements are scalable sustainable and aligned with enterprise priorities.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Required: Bachelors degree in Engineering Supply Chain Management Operations Management Statistics Economics Business Administration Data Science/Data Analytics Commerce or a related quantitative discipline.
- Preferred: MBA or postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain Operations Analytics or Finance; or a relevant skilled certification such as ASCM CPIM/CSCP.
Experience
- 8 to 12 years of experience in demand planning forecasting inventory management merchandise planning supply chain or a related discipline preferably within retail FMCG or consumer goods.
- Demonstrated experience leading planning strategies across multiple categories portfolios channels or complex business areas.
- Advanced expertise in demand forecasting inventory strategy scenario planning and business performance analysis.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders lead complex cross-functional initiatives and drive decisions in ambiguous business environments.
- Experience developing team capabilities coaching planning professionals and establishing functional standards or best practices.
- Demonstrated success delivering measurable improvements in forecast performance inventory productivity product availability or planning efficiency.
Reporting Analytics & Planning Tools
- Advanced experience with demand planning forecasting inventory management or merchandise planning systems such as o9 SolutionsBlue Yonder (JDA) Kinaxis SAP IBP Oracle Demand Planningor similar tools.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with large and complex datasets.
- Experience with SQL and data visualization platforms such as Power BI or similar tools.
- Working knowledge of statistical forecasting methodologies model evaluation and demand-sensing approaches.
- Exposure to Python R cloud-based analytics machine learning or optimization tools is beneficial.
- Ability to translate technical and analytical findings into clear business recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Analytical Competencies: Advanced Data Analysis Forecast Model Evaluation Root Cause Analysis Scenario & Sensitivity Analysis Trend & Pattern Analysis Strategic Problem Solving Business Insights and Data-Driven Decision Making.
- Leadership Competencies: Strategic Leadership Enterprise Mindset Ownership & Accountability Influence without Authority Executive Communication Cross-Functional Leadership Decision-Making in Ambiguity Change Leadership Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Success Profile
A successful Capability Lead combines advanced planning expertise strategic thinking and enterprise leadership to improve demand and inventory outcomes across multiple business areas. The individual anticipates emerging risks and opportunities connects operational decisions with financial and merchandising objectives and influences senior stakeholders toward aligned and timely action.
He/She operates with a high degree of independence and provides functional direction in complex or ambiguous situations. They develop planning talent establish scalable standards and lead transformation initiatives that improve forecast quality product availability inventory productivity and organizational effectiveness. Success in this role is demonstrated through sustained business impact stronger planning capabilities improved cross-functional decision-making and the ability to shape the future of Planning & Inventory Management.