Allocator

Allocator

Employment Type: Freelance

Pay Rate: $35/hr

Location: West 42nd Street | New York, NY 10036

Duration: Immediate start; 3 months with potential to extend

We are seeking a detail-oriented Allocator to support inventory planning and allocation across store locations. This role is responsible for maintaining the right stock levels by style and category, ensuring inventory is balanced, productive, and aligned with business needs throughout the full merchandise lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical skills, experience managing replenishment and store inventory, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with planning, buying, logistics, and retail teams. This person will play a key role in product flow, inventory optimization, and supporting store performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure stores maintain appropriate stock levels by style and category.
• Manage inventory from initial allocation through end-of-life, including replenishment, style expansion, and consolidation across stores or channels.
• Oversee store inventory levels based on capacity, store attributes, seasonality, and selling trends.
• Execute daily allocations to replenish core, seasonal, and new product assortments, as well as aged inventory when needed.
• Review and respond to product requests and confirmed multi-unit sales from stores.
• Maintain and update weekly allocation forecasts to support inventory rebalancing, destocking opportunities, and new product flow.
• Partner with Planning and Buying teams to determine weekly and monthly product flow into stores.
• Coordinate with Logistics and Retail Leadership on shipment timing, shipping capacity, delivery targets, and inventory flow during peak periods.
• Analyze stock by style and store and initiate inter-store transfers or consolidations to optimize inventory placement.
• Collaborate with Planning teams to review weekly business performance and create action plans to improve sales and inventory productivity.
• Support end-of-season strategies by identifying excess inventory and assisting with style expansion, markdowns, alternate channels, and promotions.
• Communicate weekly product delivery updates to stores, including product details and imagery when available.
• Assist Planning teams with store goals, markdown execution, and other business-critical initiatives.

Ideal Background:

• Experience in allocation, inventory management, merchandising, or retail planning.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Effective communication skills and experience collaborating across departments.
• Proficiency in inventory systems, forecasting tools, and Excel or similar reporting platforms.