Business Planner
New Balance · Seoul
Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
POSITION SUMMARY
Business Planner partners closely with Digital Commerce, Commercial, Merchandising, Finance, and Planning teams to develop and manage top-line business plans across New Balance Korea's commercial channels. This role is responsible for driving sales, inventory productivity, and profitability through forecasting, performance analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. The position supports business planning across consumer-facing channels and plays a key role in identifying opportunities and risks to drive sustainable growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Long Range & Pre-season Planning
- Create rolling long-range plans based on marketplace capacity, including stock and sales to drive gross-to-net targets.
- Align and deliver account financial plans on the basis of strategy, profitability, and consumer insights.
- Establish monthly sales, inventory, and demand projections across commercial channels based on business objectives, seasonal strategies, and market opportunities.
- Ensure retail metrics are fully aligned with seasonal plans.
2. In-season Management
- Monitor business performance across channels against plans, forecasts, and prior-year results to identify drivers of performance and root causes.
- Identify potential risks and opportunities against inventory plans and develop actionable recommendations.
- Manage rolling forecast and suggest amendments in OTB (Open-to-Buy) and plans as necessary.
3. Post-season Management
- Conduct comprehensive post-season business reviews (sales, margin, inventory, and turn) against plans and last year's performance.
- Recap bookings from gross to net and share insights with internal cross-functional partners.
4. Data Consolidation & Business Reporting
- Consolidate and analyze sales, inventory, sell-through, and operational data across E-commerce, Retail, Outlet, and Wholesale channels.
- Prepare recurring business reports, dashboards, and performance updates for key stakeholders.
- Analyze customer, channel, and product performance to identify growth opportunities and business trends.
- Support business decision-making through data-driven insights and commercial recommendations.
- Ensure accuracy and consistency of planning data by coordinating with Commercial, Finance, Merchandising, and Operations teams.
5. Strategic Collaboration & Reporting
- Partner with Digital Commerce, Sales, Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, and Operations teams to align business plans and growth strategies.
- Support forecasting and planning for key promotional events, seasonal campaigns, and marketplace opportunities.
- Track promotional calendars and events to provide informed top-line sales plans.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS
Experience
- 5 to 7 years of experience in Business Planning, E-commerce Planning, or related functions.
- Experience supporting Digital Commerce, and Outlet businesses is preferred.
- Proven experience in gross margin profitability planning.
- Experience in analyzing customers, competitors, and retail trends (Sports apparel/footwear market preferred).
Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in MS Office, specifically Excel (complex formulas, pivot tables).
- Comprehensive understanding of retail math.
- Experience with planning software/tools and merchandise management systems preferred.
- Knowledge of SQL, or data analytic language is a plus
Soft Skills
- Communication & Influence: Strong ability to effectively communicate and influence others across the organization.
- Matrix Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a matrix environment with multiple business functions and senior management.
- Analytical Decision Making: Ability to interpret complex financial data to make impactful business recommendations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Location: Seoul Anguk, Korea / Department: Business Planning / Reports to: Business Planning Manager
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Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.
If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.