Demand Planner

The Role

BURLEBO is looking for an experienced, self-directed Senior Demand Planner to own our forecasting and inventory planning process end to end. This is not a back-office analyst role — we need a visionary planner: someone who can zoom out to see where the brand and product line are headed, zoom in to catch the details that get missed, and use modern tools (including AI) to consistently land on optimal order quantities. You'll operate with a high degree of autonomy, bringing structure and foresight to a fast-growing apparel business.

To be considered, please fill out this survey: https://go.cultureindex.com/p/iOQKGo7yofX3JU5Wokz

What You'll Do

• Own the end-to-end demand planning process — from historical sales analysis and trend forecasting to translating forecasts into optimal purchase order quantities by style, color, and size.
• Partner cross-functionally with sales, merchandising, marketing, and finance to build forecasts that reflect both data and real-world brand momentum (launches, seasonality, retail partner demand, marketing calendar).
• Use AI tools, including Claude, to build and refine forecasting models, stress-test assumptions, and speed up analysis — you should be comfortable prompting, iterating, and building lightweight tools/workflows, not just running static spreadsheets.
• Identify risk early — overstock, understock, slow-moving inventory — and proactively bring solutions, not just problems.
• Build and maintain planning models, dashboards, and reporting that give leadership clear visibility into inventory health and future needs.
• Continuously improve our forecasting methodology and tech stack as the brand scales.
• Work without close supervision — you'll be trusted to set your own priorities, flag issues, and drive outcomes.
• Dictate the inbound shipment schedule in coordination with fulfillment, ensuring receipt timing lines up with demand, capacity, and sell-through goals.
• Maintain accuracy of product and inventory data within our planning systems, regularly auditing to ensure purchasing and production decisions are built on clean, trustworthy data.
• Establish and manage inventory level targets, monitoring supply/demand alignment across styles and channels.
• Construct and execute supply plans that mitigate risk and ensure continuity of supply — keeping the right product flowing on time and at quality.
• Partner with internal stakeholders on advanced risk-mitigation strategies, such as long-term purchase commitments and strategic safety stock positioning on key styles.
• Coordinate with design, production, and quality teams to manage style and seasonal transitions, reduce excess/obsolete inventory, and resolve quality issues before they reach the customer.
• Proactively flag critical supply or demand issues to leadership before they become problems — not after.
• Analyze planning data and report on key metrics: forecast accuracy, inventory health, and how well the business is executing against plan.

What You Bring

Required:

• 5+ years of demand planning experience specifically within apparel — you understand style/color/size-level forecasting, seasonality, and the realities of apparel production lead times.
• A demonstrated track record of exceptional, measurable results in previous roles (e.g., reduced stockouts, reduced excess inventory, improved forecast accuracy, revenue impact) — be ready to speak to specifics.
• Strong problem-solving instincts — you find the root cause and fix it, rather than escalating and waiting.
• Proven ability to work independently and drive projects without day-to-day direction.
• Strong data analysis skills (Excel/Sheets required; SQL, Python, or BI tools a strong plus).
• Hands-on comfort using AI tools like Claude to support analysis, modeling, and decision-making.
• Exceptional attention to detail — you catch the discrepancy others miss.
• A genuine personal connection to the BURLEBO brand and the outdoor lifestyle it represents — hunting, fishing, ranch, lake, tailgate culture. This isn't just a job to you.
• Strong communication skills — you can translate data into a clear point of view for non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work 100% in-office at our South Austin location.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment without losing precision.
• Highest level of integrity in all decisions and communications.

Preferred:

• Experience in logistics, supply chain, or production planning (import/export, factory lead times, freight).
• Management experience — comfortable leading, mentoring, or eventually building out a planning team.
• Experience planning for a growing or founder-led brand.
• Background in wholesale + DTC channel planning.
• Experience navigating multi-tier product/style hierarchies (style color size) and translating that structure into clean planning data.
• Proven success partnering cross-functionally on new product launches — cost, timing, and feasibility conversations with design/production.
• PowerBI or similar data visualization experience.
• Advanced Excel skills — pivot tables, macros, and complex data analysis.
• APICS (CPIM/CSCP) certification.
• Lean Six Sigma certification.

What Makes Someone Great at This Job

We're not looking for someone who just runs the numbers — we're looking for someone who sees around corners. The best person for this role blends a planner's discipline with a visionary's instinct: they can look at a trend line and a gut feeling about the brand's trajectory and land on a number that's right. They take ownership, they don't wait to be told what to do, and they care about getting it right because they genuinely want to see BURLEBO win.

Perks + Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Generous employee discount
• Annual company offsite events