Allocation Analyst

About the Company: JCPenney is the shopping destination for diverse, working American families. With inclusivity at its core, the Company's product assortment meets customers everyday needs and helps them commemorate every special occasion with style, quality and value. JCPenney offers a broad portfolio of fashion, apparel, home, beauty and jewelry from national and private brands and provides personal services including salon, portrait and optical. The Company and its 50,000 associates worldwide serve customers where, when and how they want to shop – from jcp.com to more than 650 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In 2022, JCPenney celebrates 120 years as an iconic American brand by continuing its legacy of connecting with customers through shopping and community engagement. Please visit JCPenney's Newsroom to learn more and follow JCPenney on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more opportunities to join our team please visit our careers page.

About the Role: Execute comprehensive allocation strategies to support merchandise assortment plans, ensuring consistent alignment with business objectives and buyer direction.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the end-to-end inventory allocation process utilizing JDA (or other relevant inventory management systems), ensuring timely and accurate product flow across all retail locations.
• Continuously monitor and analyze store performance, sales trends, and regional/seasonal demand to make data-driven allocation adjustments that enhance product availability and minimize stockouts or overstocks.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Buying Units (Buyers, Assistant Buyers, Assortment Planners, and Inventory Demand Analysts)—to support pre-season and in-season merchandise planning decisions.
• Conduct in-depth hindsight reviews of past seasons to identify key learnings and apply insights to improve future allocation and assortment planning strategies.
• Provide clear, strategic recommendations to business units through ongoing review of critical business performance reports, ensuring decisions are backed by data and market intelligence.
• Proactively manage residual inventory and warehouse stock by ensuring timely allocation to stores, mitigating potential overstocking or markdowns.
• Evaluate and initiate channel-to-channel transfers, Return to Warehouse (RTW), Return to Vendor (RTV), Transfers and Returns (TARs), and Enterprise Inventory Reserve (EIR) actions to optimize inventory health.

Qualifications: 0 to 2 years of experience in Retail Supply Chain - planning and allocation, merchandising planning, inventory management and forecasting.

Required Skills:

• Critical thinking, Problem Solving & Decision-making.
• Business planning and financial analysis, Allocation, Planning, Buying, Merchandising, Inventory Control and Supply Chain knowledge.
• Proficiency in Blue Yonder INFORM/JDA/EFAs or other planning and allocation operating system.
• Experience with MicroStrategy Planning & Reporting tools a plus.
• Proficiency in intermediate to advanced excel.

Preferred Skills: Enjoy a rewarding career at Catalyst Brands Business Services, where we offer a competitive benefits package, a vibrant work environment, and the opportunity to make a difference at one of America's most iconic retailers.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to helping our employees grow their careers and develop their skills. We offer a variety of training and development programs, as well as opportunities for advancement. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage teamwork and collaboration, and we are always looking for ways to support our employees success.