Manager, Demand Planning

About Us:
Comfrt is one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, dedicated to blending mental wellness, inclusivity, and elevated comfort into every piece we create. Our mission goes beyond clothing — we strive to build a community where everyone feels supported and seen. 

About the Job: 

Under the direction of the Chief Buying Officer, the Manager, Demand Planning will own Comfrt's retail store planning engine — from demand forecasting and line planning through buy execution and store inventory strategy. This role translates merchandising vision and growth goals into financially sound, high-turnover inventory plans that maximize sales and margin across our physical retail footprint, while maintaining awareness of DTC performance as a demand signal.

Operating at the intersection of Merchandising, Marketing, Production, Finance, and Operations, this position builds scalable planning processes to support rapid retail expansion, high-velocity product drops, and a growing store fleet.

Responsibilities:

Forecasting, Sales & Financial Planning

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal demand forecasts at the style, color, and SKU level — with a primary focus on retail store performance.
• Leverage DTC sell-through data and consumer behavior trends as leading indicators for retail demand.
• Reforecast based on real-time store sales performance, traffic trends, marketing activity, and regional consumer behavior.
• Support the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process for retail, balancing financial targets, inventory risk, and store-level growth opportunities.
• Conduct demand scenario planning to assess inventory exposure and sales opportunities across the store fleet.

Retail Inventory & Buy Strategy

• Own buy plans for retail stores, aligned to top-line, margin, and inventory turn goals at the door level.
• Monitor retail inventory health across all locations, tracking Weeks of Supply (WOS) targets and flagging in-stock vs. overstock risk by store.
• Lead planning for high-velocity drops, seasonal launches, and core replenishment strategies across the store network.
• Drive size curve, depth, and store-level allocation strategies to maximize full-price sell-through and minimize markdowns.
• Manage inter-store transfers and replenishment flows to balance inventory across locations.
• Partner with Operations and 3PL to ensure timely inbound delivery and floor-ready inventory execution.
• Support pre-order and DTC inventory planning as needed to ensure no channel conflict or stock cannibalization.

Cross-Functional Leadership & S&OP

• Serve as the primary planning partner to the Retail Merchandising and Store Operations teams.
• Collaborate with Marketing (launch timing and in-store demand drivers), Production (lead times and capacity), Finance (store-level budgeting and cash flow), and 3PL/Operations.
• Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and demand consensus reviews, highlighting store-specific risks, opportunities, and changes in trajectory.
• Translate complex retail demand insights into clear, actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners and leadership.

Systems, Data & Process Optimization

• Maintain forecasting tools, planning models, and reporting frameworks with a focus on store-level visibility — across Excel/Google Sheets, Shopify, BI tools, and ERP/PLM systems.
• Support implementation, customization, and ongoing maintenance of retail inventory planning software.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of SKU data, barcodes, purchase orders, and store-level inventory records.
• Build and improve scalable retail planning tools and analytics as Comfrt's store fleet grows.
• Monitor forecast accuracy, bias, and retail KPIs (WOS, sell-through, GMROI, in-stock rate); identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Requirements:

• 3–5+ years of experience in Retail Demand Planning, Merchandise Planning, or Buying within lifestyle apparel, activewear, or consumer brands managing a multi-door store fleet.
• Proven success supporting fast-growth and expansion-stage retail environments with high SKU count and complexity.
• Hands-on experience with store-level allocation, replenishment, and inter-store transfer strategies required.
• Working knowledge of DTC e-commerce planning (Shopify experience a plus) to leverage as a demand signal for retail.
• Wholesale planning experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets, including complex retail modeling and scenario planning (macros a plus).
• Strong working knowledge of BI software, inventory/3PL systems, and ERP/PLM tools.
• Strong command of retail math: IMU, margin, WOS, sell-through, GMROI, and inventory turn.
• Strong forecasting and analytical capabilities; comfortable operating in high-velocity, imperfect data environments.

Why Join Comfrt?

• Be part of a purpose-driven company that’s shaping the future of comfort and mental wellness.
• Work in a supportive, creative environment where your ideas and growth are valued.
• Enjoy Comfrt benefits such as generous paid time off, company-covered health insurance, 5% 401k match, and discounts on all Comfrt products! 
• Join a passionate team making an impact on exciting projects, all while enjoying the flexibility and collaborative support of a fully remote environment.

Comfrt is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.