Key Account Planning Manager

Overview

The Japan Key Account Planning Manager for Crocs is responsible for leading account-level business planning, demand forecasting, buy guidance, and inventory management for key wholesale accounts in Japan. Reporting to the Director, Wholesales Planning, APAC, this role works closely with Sales and key wholesale accounts in Japan to align business plans, drive sell-through, and maintain healthy inventory. Working with Merchandising, Finance, Customer Service, and Supply Planning, the role aligns account-level sell-in, sell-out, inventory, and revenue plans, translating performance insights into actions that support sustainable account growth.

What You'll Do

• Own end-to-end planning for assigned key wholesale accounts in Japan across pre-season and in-season cycles. Build annual, seasonal, and monthly account plans covering sales targets, sell-in, sell-out, inventory, and growth opportunities, with clear milestones and action ownership.
• Partner closely with Sales and key accounts to develop joint account plans and align financial targets, assortment segmentation, must-buy options, optional assortments, promotional calendars, and launch plans. Translate these into account-specific buy guidance and sell-in/sell-out plans, coordinating with Merchandising, Finance, Customer Service, and Supply Planning.
• Develop account-level demand forecasts, OTB models, and buy recommendations by door segment, style-color/material, and size. Use customer POS data, historical sell-through, product rankings, inventory and on-order positions, and growth assumptions to guide initial buys, replenishment, and in-season adjustments.
• Lead regular account planning and booking reviews with Sales and customers, reconciling bookings, Left to Book, At Once opportunities, confirmed shipments, and allocation feasibility against account targets. Consolidate account forecasts into S&OP and coordinate delivery phasing, replenishment, and recovery actions with cross-functional teams.
• Manage inventory health for assigned accounts by category and product, monitoring stock cover, inventory turns, core carryover availability, and excess/end-of-life exposure. Recommend replenishment, assortment rebalancing, and stock reduction actions with Sales and customers, while addressing supply delays, shipment risks, allocation readiness, and launch-date feasibility.
• Lead account performance analysis and contribute to customer business reviews, MBR/QBR, and marketplace health reviews. Provide clear visibility to sell-in, sell-out, confirmed shipments, forecast accuracy, inventory KPIs, and revenue risks and opportunities; align corrective actions with Sales, customers, and internal teams and track follow-through.

What You'll Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in demand planning, wholesale planning, merchandise planning, inventory planning, or a related commercial planning function.
• Experience in FMCG, apparel, footwear, fashion, or consumer goods with a wholesale business model preferred; experience supporting key accounts in the Japan market is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of account-level business planning, demand forecasting, OTB modeling, sell-in/sell-out planning, assortment productivity, replenishment, and inventory management, with hands-on experience working with wholesale customers.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate large data sets into clear insights, recommendations, and business actions.
• Proficiency in planning systems and Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel; experience with Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot, Power Automate, or o9 is an advantage.
• Highly collaborative and commercially minded, with strong customer-facing communication, relationship management, and influencing skills. Able to align Sales, regional and country teams, and external wholesale accounts on joint plans, priorities, and actions.