[Hiring] Forecast & Allocations Specialist @Dolce & Gabbana Beauty USA Inc

Role Description

The Forecast & Allocations Specialist will manage the day-to-day forecasting and allocation processes supporting Makeup and Skincare Trade Marketing programs. The role is responsible for maintaining forecasts and actuals, developing retailer and field allocations, tracking budgets and purchase orders, and coordinating marketing and gratis orders. The Specialist will focus on forecast accuracy, inventory efficiency, financial tracking, and operational execution while proactively identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Forecasting & Allocations
  • Manage monthly forecasts for samples, GWPs, testers, gratis, collateral, and promotional materials, including reconciliation of forecasts against actual consumption.
  • Partner with Supply Chain on new launch forecasts and monitor SKU-level consumption to minimize excess and obsolete inventory (E&O).
  • Develop and maintain allocations based on retailer penetration, covered doors, store tiering, STE coverage, business needs, and commercial priorities.
  • Provide SKU and allocation requirements for monthly Toolkit Meetings, launches, activations, and field initiatives.
  • Partner with Trade Marketing and Sales to ensure forecasts and allocations align with retailer commitments and business priorities.
  • Manage and continuously improve the tester forecasting process to minimize out-of-stocks, prevent arbitrage, and ensure appropriate inventory levels, including monthly reconciliation.
• Budget & PO Management
  • Track the Makeup and Skincare Trade Marketing budget, including actuals, committed spend, purchase orders, and upcoming expenses.
  • Identify budget variances and support monthly Trade Marketing budget reviews.
  • Coordinate purchase order requests, track PO creation and status, and communicate approved POs to vendors.
  • Support PO and invoice reconciliation and maintain accurate PO records.
  • Track local production costs and provide reporting to support budget management and Trade Marketing planning.
• Order Management
  • Allocate and place product, marketing, retailer comp, and gratis orders for the Trade Marketing team and cross-functional partners.
  • Monitor order requirements and proactively flag potential inventory, allocation, or shipment risks that could impact program execution.
• Reporting & Cross-Functional Support
  • Maintain reporting across forecasts, allocations, inventory, orders, POs, and budgets, highlighting key variances, trends, and risks.
  • Monitor forecast accuracy and allocation efficiency and recommend opportunities for improvement.
  • Prepare allocation recommendations and SKU-level analyses for launches, activations, field programs, and internal business reviews.
  • Partner with Trade Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Education, Communications, Field, and Operations to support timely program execution.
  • Proactively identify and communicate forecast, inventory, shipment, budget, and allocation risks.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual work, and improve forecasting, allocation, and reporting accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in forecasting, allocations, demand planning, operations, supply chain, finance, or trade marketing; beauty or luxury experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of forecasting, inventory management, allocations, and SKU-level analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Excel and comfort working with detailed SKU-level data, forecasts, budgets, and reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across functions.