Planning Inventory Operations Associate

Location: New York City (In Person)

Department: Product

Reports to: VP of Planning

Employment Type: Full-Time

Pay Range: $70,000 - $80,000 annually

Role summary

The Planning Inventory Operations Associate is responsible for managing the execution of the footwear product lifecycle - from purchase order entry through bulk delivery - ensuring all purchase orders are entered correctly and on time and managing changes through production through to delivery. Serving as the critical link between Design, Development, Planning, Merchandising, Operations and global partners, this individual owns purchase orders management, and proactively calls out purchase order challenges before they become delays. The right candidate has a high level of detail, accountability, and process management. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of detail and process.

Key responsibilities:

Purchase order management

• Create and issue all bulk purchase orders across all channels, ensuring style, colour, quantity, cost, and delivery data are accurate at all times.
• Proofread customer and vendor purchase orders for discrepancies prior to issuance — verifying compliance with customer-specific packing, labelling, ticketing, and tagging requirements.
• Partner with Operations to ensure smooth and timely delivery of Purchase Orders to the DC
• Communicate order changes, updates, and delivery revisions to the relevant internal stakeholders — ensuring all parties are informed and aligned in a timely manner.
• Maintain and update master order sheets (Inventory Cost Record), shipping trackers (PO Detail Report), and seasonal status databases (Good Day) at all times, ensuring accuracy across all active styles and accounts.
• Track shipments against the delivery schedule, confirming goods have left the factory on time and escalating risks in real time and leading weekly meetings with the CFT on changes from the week prior.

Vendor & process management

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for overseas factories, NY Office, and Spanish Production — maintaining clear, timely, and solution-oriented communication on all purchase order matters.
• Monitor factory production status against the PO calendar, proactively calling out issues related to delivery and delays risk, PO changes, or costing updates.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with all partners, holding them accountable to maintain purchase order costing, units, and timing.
• Call out changes that affect timing, units or cost, with vendors, escalating to the Cross Functional Team where required for visibility and resolution.
• Support allocation and capacity planning across factory partners, ensuring production is distributed appropriately by category and volume.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Act as the central coordination point between Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Planning, Operations, and global sourcing partners — ensuring consistent, accurate information flows across all teams throughout the season.
• Build and facilitate cross-functional meeting agendas, tracking action items and driving follow-through across internal and external partners.

What you'll bring

Experience

• 2-3+ years of experience of project management, accounting, data management
• High level of attention to detail and process
• Proven track record managing relationships
• Bachelor's degree preferred

Skills & competencies

• Proficiency in T&A calendar management, WIP reporting, and tracking tools
• Fluent in Spanish
• Understanding of costing and retail math skills
• Exceptional organizational instincts - nothing falls through the cracks
• Proactive communicator: clear, direct, and solutions-oriented under pressure
• Able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and hold partners accountable at all levels

What We Offer:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy so you can rest and recharge
• Sick leave and paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(K)
• Employee discount on all Margaux products
• A close-knit, mission-driven team culture