Demand Planning Manager — Fashion Operations
Chanel — Demand Planning Manager in Paris. Lead demand forecasting and inventory planning for fashion collections within Chanel's global operations.
Overview
Chanel is an independent French luxury house renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and fine jewelry. As an employer, the brand combines artisanal craftsmanship with global commercial operations and invests in talent across creative, manufacturing and commercial functions while maintaining a culture of discretion and excellence.
Role & Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end demand planning for assigned fashion categories (collections, seasonal ranges and core assortments), producing accurate short-, mid- and long-term forecasts.
- Lead monthly forecasting and S&OP cycles, align demand plans with merchandising, buying, production and supply chain stakeholders and reconcile plan-to-stock constraints.
- Develop and maintain forecasting methodologies and statistical models; perform scenario and sensitivity analyses to support assortment, allocation and replenishment decisions.
- Monitor sell-through, inventory health, backlog and KPI performance (forecast accuracy, bias, weeks of supply); propose corrective actions and commercial recommendations.
- Drive SKU lifecycle management and promotional/markdown planning to optimize sell-through and margin while minimizing stock obsolescence.
- Partner with IT and analytics teams to improve planning processes, data quality and reporting; implement tooling and automation where appropriate.
- Provide clear commentary and decision-ready insights to senior management; prepare demand justification and risk assessments for collection launches.
Qualifications
- Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Statistics or a related discipline; MSc or advanced degree preferred.
- Proven track record (typically 5+ years) in demand planning, merchandise planning or forecasting within fashion, luxury or apparel retail.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional processes and influence senior stakeholders in merchandising, buying and supply chain.
- Strong analytical aptitude with experience translating data into commercial actions and presenting clear, concise recommendations.
- Experience implementing or improving forecasting processes and KPIs across multiple product categories and seasonal cycles.
Skills
Experience
Typically 5+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, merchandise planning or forecasting within fashion, luxury goods, or apparel retail, including responsibility for complex seasonal assortments and cross-functional S&OP processes; prior line management or project leadership experience is advantageous.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Statistics or related field; a Master's degree or specialised supply-chain/analytics certification is preferred.
Culture
The workplace emphasizes craftsmanship, creativity and uncompromising quality, balanced with rigorous commercial discipline. Teams operate collaboratively across design, production and retail functions, valuing discretion, attention to detail and professional development within an international luxury context.