Position Summary The Business Analyst / Inventory Planner plays a key role in bridging data analytics with market intuition to drive accurate sales and inventory forecasting across all product categories. This individual will build and maintain AI-assisted forecasting models, leveraging both historical sales trends and market signals, to inform purchasing, production, and inventory decisions.

Beyond technical capability, the right candidate will bring strong fashion or trend awareness, able to recognize when a style may overperform or suddenly lose momentum and factor that intuition into the model. The role will support cross-functional partners in Sales, Design, and Production, elevating how the company uses data to predict demand, optimize buys, and evaluate business results.

Essential Functions / Duties

Forecasting and Modeling

Develop, implement, and maintain forecasting models using traditional analytics an large language model (LLM) integrations.

Combine quantitative analysis (POS data, sell-through, seasonality, lead times) with qualitative factors (trend feedback, fashion lifecycle patterns, social sentiment) to create dynamic demand forecasts.

Build predictive dashboards in Excel, Power-BI, or Python-based tools to visualize future inventory needs by category, customer, and season.

Evaluate and refine model accuracy through back testing and variance analysis.

Inventory and Business Planning

Translate forecasts into actionable inventory and purchasing plans aligned with company revenue targets and open-to-buy strategies.

Partner with Production to ensure inventory availability supports delivery timelines while minimizing overstock or markdown exposure

Identify early signals of under-or-over-performance to recommend real-time adjustments.

Data Analysis and Insight Development

Analyze company results to uncover sales, margin, and productivity trends across categories, customers, and vendors.

Build models to assess the value of qualitative team input (e.g., Sales or Design gut feel) and translate it into measurable data weighting.

Prepare executive-level summaries and visualizations for monthly and quarterly review.

Training and Collaboration

Serve as a subject matter expert in AI/LLM-assisted forecasting within the team.

Train other planners, sales, and management staff on using models and interpreting results.

Collaborate with IT or external partners to integrate AI solutions into existing Excel-based or ERP systems.

Minimum Qualifications / Requirements

Bachelors degree in business, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or related field. MBA or advanced analytics coursework preferred.

5-8+ years of experience in demand planning, business analysis, or merchandise forecasting, preferably in fashion, consumer goods, or retail.

Proven experience in building or using LLM or machine learning tools for forecasting, data cleaning, or natural-language-driven analytics (e.g., ChatGPT, Python AI libraries, Copilot, Power BI AI).

Strong Excel and Power BI skills including formulas, pivot tables, data modeling, and DAX, ability to automate repetitive tasks).

Understanding of product lifecycle, consumer trends, and the volatility of fashion sell-through performance.

Excellent communication skills. Able to translate complex data insights into clear, actionable plans.

Comfortable working cross-functionally in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities.

A balanced mindset combining analytical precision with intuitive trend recognition.

DEZINE NEWS INC

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