Senior Director, Inventory and Merchandise Planning

Senior Director, Inventory and Merchandise Planning

Reports To: Chief Commercial Officer

Location: Milwaukee, WI (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

At Wantable, we’re redefining retail through personalization. Our membership‑based model and proprietary technology empower us to curate products that help customers discover confidence and joy through style.

As a data‑driven fashion company, we combine human intuition with algorithmic intelligence to deliver personalized assortments—balancing creativity, analytics, and operational precision.

We’re seeking a Senior Director of Inventory & Merchandise Planning who is obsessed with using AI, automation, and unconventional tools to reinvent how planning is done in modern retail. This role is perfect for a builder who knows planning fundamentals but is most energized by breaking old processes, experimenting with new AI‑powered workflows, and scaling smarter, self‑learning systems.

As the Senior Director of Merchandise Planning, you will own Wantable’s end‑to‑end planning strategy, forecasting methodology, and inventory optimization—but you’ll also push the discipline into the future, driving automation, rapid experimentation, and next‑generation decision systems. Curiosity, hands‑on innovation, and a willingness to rethink everything are more important than a traditional resume.

This is a high‑ownership role with direct impact on growth, profitability, and customer experience. You will work in a fast‑moving, low‑bureaucracy environment where independent decision‑making is expected and where your build‑what‑you‑need mindset is highly valued.

• Build the next generation of Wantable's forecasting and planning system using AI, ML‑powered demand models, LLM‑based decision tools, and automated workflows.
• Prototype and test unconventional planning approaches such as agent‑based simulations, predictive replenishment triggers, automated OTB updates, LLM‑assisted scenario planning, and more.
• Design AI‑driven tools that increase forecasting accuracy, compression speed, and planner productivity.
• Identify manual or repetitive planning tasks and aggressively replace them with automation or AI copilots.

• Lead and own all merchandise planning, allocation, and inventory management strategies to maximize revenue and margin.
• Build and maintain financial and unit‑level forecasts using AI‑enhanced modeling to align merchandising, product development, and operations.
• Oversee seasonal and long‑range OTB plans and deploy predictive algorithms to balance growth with inventory productivity.
• Drive in‑season agility using real‑time data and automated alerts for reorders, markdowns, and product flow adjustments.
• Partner with Merchandising and Product Development to support Wantable's expanding private brands using AI‑powered sell‑through forecasting and attribute‑level demand modeling.

• Develop and coach a planning team that embraces experimentation, autonomy, and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Promote a culture of curiosity—where planners feel empowered to build tools, run rapid tests, and challenge legacy processes.
• Ensure the team is skilled in AI copilots, prompt engineering fundamentals, analytics tools, and automated reporting systems.

• Oversee creation of AI‑optimized dashboards, predictive analytics, and self‑updating reporting tools.
• Collaborate closely with Data Science and Engineering to deploy new algorithms and ensure model performance is measurable and stable.
• Use AI‑assisted analysis to uncover new opportunities to improve margins, reduce inventory waste, and accelerate product flow.

• Deep experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or financial planning paired with a genuine passion for AI innovation.
• Strong analytical and financial skills; comfortable designing and evaluating AI‑enhanced models.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex OTB plans, margin performance, and inventory strategy in dynamic, high‑growth environments.
• Hands‑…