Principal - Planning Transformation - Seattle

Nordstrom is committed to being the leader in Omnichannel retailing. We have long recognized the importance of having strong capabilities in both Physical and Digital retailing and we continue to innovate on how we can help our customers LOOK THEIR BEST and FEEL GOOD. The Operations Planning Team sits at the center of Nordstrom’s operations - aligning cross-functional plans and supporting critical decision-making tools and routines.  

Nordstrom (JWN) is seeking a highly motivated and goal-oriented Transformation Leader to join its Operations Planning & Insights team. Combining a background in transformation and program management with a deep understanding of supply chain and operations planning, you will own Nordstrom’s operations planning capability roadmap and drive the transformation of operations planning to enable a world class operations organization. Our capability roadmap includes developing world-class forecasting capabilities, launching a network-wide command center product, and evolving our cross-functional planning and execution routines. You will partner with business stakeholders across our FCs and DCs, transportation, store operations, finance, workforce management, inventory planning, merchandise planning, and our internal product and tech teams, to design and implement enhanced or new planning and forecasting capabilities while managing to project timelines, budgets, etc.   

The ideal candidate must be able to effectively work across all levels of the organization, serve as a trusted partner to leadership, and operate proactively to key priorities to life. Your business acumen, interpersonal skills, and ability to make data driven decisions and recommendations will be critical. This is a newly created role so the ability to manage ambiguity and change will be a critical component for success. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE 

1.      Transformation Management: 

• Drive JWN's operations planning transformation towards our planning capability vision. Managing execution of the transformation roadmap with a broad set of cross-functional stakeholders.  

• Foster collaboration and communication across departments to ensure alignment with overall business objectives. 

• Regularly communicate progress, key milestones, and challenges to executive leadership and stakeholders. 

2.      Process Optimization: 

• Evaluate existing operations planning processes and systems to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. 

• Lead cross-functional teams to redesign and optimize processes, implementing best practices and innovative solutions. 

3.      Product Management and Technology Partnership: 

• Assess and recommend appropriate technology solutions to enhance operations planning, visibility, efficiency, and collaboration. 

• Oversee the build and implementation of advanced technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. 

4.      Change Management:  

• Develop and execute change management plans to ensure successful adoption of new processes and technologies. 

• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to teams throughout the transformation journey. 

5.      Performance Metrics and Analytics: 

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and impact of operations planning transformation initiatives. 

• Utilize data analytics to make informed decisions and continuously improve supply chain performance. 

YOU OWN THIS IF YOU HAVE… 

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Master's degree preferred. 

• 10+ years in supply chain leadership roles with a focus on transformation. 

• Strong understanding of supply chain and retail planning processes (volume planning for warehouses, transportation, store operations; labor / headcount planning for warehousing), and industry (retail, consumer goods, apparel) best practices. 

• Experience and familiarity with emerging technologies in operations planning (e.g., Anaplan, o9, Relex,) and  

• Experience in successfully leading large-scale change management initiatives. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 

• Comfortable driving to decisions and working through ambiguity 

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and levels of the organization (from SVP down to managers / analysts) 

• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies and Microsoft Offices (powerpoint, excel, etc.)