What are the responsibilities and job description for the Allocation Analyst position at Designer Brands?
At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of “We Love What We Do,” “We Own What We Do,” “We Do What’s Right,” and “We Belong,” we continuously drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot forward.
Allocation Analyst
Reports to: Senior Manager, Store Planning and Allocation
The Opportunity
As an Allocation Analyst, you’ll play a central role in how product shows up for our customers—deciding what goes where, when it matters most. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning data into action, spotting patterns others might miss, and influencing outcomes through thoughtful analysis and collaboration.
You’ll be responsible for executing allocation strategies for a specific product category, ensuring the right inventory reaches the right stores at the right time. Working closely with Merchandising and Planning partners, you’ll help shape product flow, improve in-stock performance, and support financial goals across the business.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role where your ideas, analysis, and curiosity directly impact store performance and customer experience.
What You’ll Be Doing
Experience & Education
Allocation Analyst
Reports to: Senior Manager, Store Planning and Allocation
The Opportunity
As an Allocation Analyst, you’ll play a central role in how product shows up for our customers—deciding what goes where, when it matters most. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning data into action, spotting patterns others might miss, and influencing outcomes through thoughtful analysis and collaboration.
You’ll be responsible for executing allocation strategies for a specific product category, ensuring the right inventory reaches the right stores at the right time. Working closely with Merchandising and Planning partners, you’ll help shape product flow, improve in-stock performance, and support financial goals across the business.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role where your ideas, analysis, and curiosity directly impact store performance and customer experience.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Execute allocations for an assigned product category that aligns to the assortment strategy and store capacity
- Monitor product performance at the store and item level; identify risks and opportunities to improve product productivity, maximize in-stocks and propose actionable recommendations
- Partner with Merchants and Planning to understand assortment strategies, product life cycles and inform the allocation strategy; participate in weekly cross functional meetings, hindsight and pre-season discussions
- Contribute to process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy and automation within the allocation system
- Develop and maintain ad hoc reporting to analyze performance and support the allocation strategy; share insights and recommendations cross functionally
- Ability to use data to inform decisions and identify trends, risks and opportunities; clearly communicate findings to cross functional teams
Experience & Education
- 1–2 years of experience in allocation, planning, analytics, or retail inventory management
- BA or BS required, preferably in a business related field
- Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in retail math
- Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and draw actionable insights
- Excel knowledge and skills are required
- Experience working with retail allocation systems preferred (Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle, or similar)
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner across teams and levels
- Ability to clearly share insights, recommendations, and rationale behind decisions
- Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
- Comfortable making judgment-based decisions and solving problems independently
- Able to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment
- Team oriented, with a shared focus on achieving common goals
- Your Sole Well-Being: Our benefits package is crafted with our associates in mind! We support you with benefits like free virtual health care, robust family/fertility benefits, 401(k) w/ match, and more. Explore our offerings at https://mymobilewalletcard.com/dbi.
- Stride with Flexibility: We offer hybrid and remote work opportunities, giving you the freedom to stay connected, productive, and inspired—wherever you do your best work.
- Stepping Up Your Career: Take advantage of training programs, professional development, and education assistance to advance your career with a company that celebrates bold ideas and fresh perspectives.
- We are Shoe-Obsessed: Because we know a great pair of shoes can change your day, you’ll enjoy 30% off at DSW & com, plus discounts across our family of brands.