Sr. Technical Program Manager - Retail / Merch Planning
Note:
Must have stable work history

A minimum of 15+ Years of experience required

Role Summary:
We are seeking a Staff Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead complex, cross-portfolio technology initiatives within Global Product Technology, with a strong focus on Merch Planning, Forecasting, Sizing, and Allocation systems .

This role operates at the intersection of business and technology , owning delivery across multiple interdependent programs. The Staff TPM is responsible for driving end-to-end outcomes, shaping technical and business decisions, and ensuring planning and allocation capabilities deliver measurable business impact .

This role requires deep understanding of retail planning lifecycles, inventory flow, and allocation strategies , combined with the ability to orchestrate complex technology delivery at scale .

Key Responsibilities:

Own end-to-end delivery outcomes across multiple programs spanning Merch Planning, Sizing, Forecasting, Allocation, and Inventory Optimization

Drive alignment across Flowstate initiatives that support:

In-season reforecasting

Allocation and transfer optimization

Ensure execution aligns to GTM gates, buy cycles, and merchandising decision timelines

2. Merch Planning & Allocation Business Acumen (Critical):

Serve as a thought partner to Merch Planning and Allocation leaders , translating business needs into scalable technology solutions

Deeply understand and incorporate:

Pre-season planning (assortment planning, size curves, buy quantities)

In-season management (reforecasting, transfers, sell-through optimization)

Allocation strategies across DCs and stores

Inventory optimization vs service levels

Automation vs planner control

Ensure technology solutions directly improve:

Forecast accuracy

Inventory productivity

Time-to-decision for planners

3. Technical & Strategic Decision Leadership:





Drive cross-system decision-making (architecture, sequencing, data flows, integration with planning tools like Anaplan, Snowflake, etc.)

Lead decision frameworks (options, tradeoffs, recommendations) for business and technology leadership

Ensure solutions reflect end-to-end planning workflows , not isolated system improvements

Act as a technical and business translator between Planning, Product, and Engineering

4. Release Governance & Delivery Management:

Own and evolve release governance and readiness processes across planning and allocation systems

Ensure releases align to critical business windows (GTM, buys, peak seasons)

Drive proactive coordination of:

Cross-system releases impacting planners

Prevent business disruption through tight release discipline and validation rigor

5. Delivery Excellence & Operating Model Design:

Design and scale delivery operating models for planning systems across multiple teams

Standardize execution practices across:

Backlog readiness tied to business outcomes

Lead initiatives to improve:

Delivery predictability

Feature adoption by business users

Quality of outputs used by planners

6. Cross-Functional Orchestration & Dependency Management:

Act as the single-threaded owner connecting Merch Planning, Allocation, Engineering, Data, and Product teams

Forecasting engines

Allocation and transfer systems

Surface and resolve risks tied to data quality, model outputs, and downstream planning impacts

7. Operational Excellence & Incident Leadership:





Lead response to production issues impacting planning or allocation outcomes (forecast errors, allocation mismatches, data delays)

Drive root cause analysis with both technical and business context

Ensure continuous improvements in:

SLA adherence

Data accuracy and reliability

Planning system stability

8. Executive Influence & Stakeholder Leadership:

Deliver executive-ready insights linking technology delivery to business outcomes (inventory, forecast accuracy, allocation effectiveness)

Influence prioritization decisions based on business value, not just delivery feasibility

Partner with senior leaders across:

Merch Planning

Allocation

Product

9. Scalable Mechanisms & Organizational Impact:

Build scalable mechanisms tailored to planning and allocation domains:

Allocation readiness checklists

Enable teams to operate with clarity, accountability, and business alignment

Coach PMs/TPMs on connecting delivery execution to merchandising outcomes

Required Qualifications:

8–12+ years in Technical Program Management or Program Management

Proven experience owning portfolio-level programs across planning, supply chain, or retail technology domains

Robust understanding of:

Merch Planning and Allocation processes

Forecasting and inventory optimization concepts

Cross-functional delivery in data-driven systems

Demonstrated ability to influence both technical and business leadership decisions

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with Anaplan, planning systems, or allocation engines

Exposure to AI/ML-based forecasting or optimization models

Experience with data platforms (e.g., Snowflake) and end-to-end data pipelines

Background in retail, apparel, or omnichannel inventory environments

Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s of engineering, or related fields.

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📌 Technical Program Manager - Retail / Merch Planning (British Columbia)
🏢 UnivEdge Consulting
📍 British Columbia