Job Title: Allocation Analyst; Reporting to: VP Planning

Job Purpose : The Allocation Analyst is responsible for the execution and optimization of allocation and assortment strategies, ensuring the effective distribution of products across various channels. This role involves providing in-depth analysis and actionable recommendations to key stakeholders, supporting critical business functions such as product purchasing, inventory management, financial goals, pricing strategies, promotions, and pre/post-event evaluations. The Allocation Analyst will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive best-in-class allocation, replenishment, planning, and distribution practices, contributing to the efficient and profitable management of inventory and product availability.

Job responsibilities : Allocation & replenishment :

- Responsible for driving profitable sales at store level and ecomm through analysis and allocation of goods
- Create weekly shipping strategies that will enable allocating products to the right stores at the right time by leveraging business tools to analyze sales trends, inventory optimization, store volumes, demographics, fixture capacity, square footage, etc.
- Tracks and interprets inventory levels to ensure they are achieving in-stock plans by monitoring store sales, inventory, inventory to sales ratio and visiting stores
- Effectively communicate expected store inventory flow to stakeholders, particularly purchasing, logistics and store operations
- Coordinate with stakeholders including purchasing, logistics, store operations and others to problem solve issues involving supply chain, inventory quantity and quality
- Visits stores and competition to analyze and develop strategic recommendations to implement with business partners

Planning, Analysis & Reporting :





- Analyze category or item data and provide recommendations to the Buyers to optimize store assortments in order to reduce inefficient distribution of inventory, increase store turns, improve GMROI, and reduce distribution costs
- Maintain and distribute key reporting to support the Buyers and other stakeholders, identify and communicate risks and opportunities, and any other ad hoc information
- Analyze allocation data inputs, and optimize in order to maximize sales & in-stock rates
- Understand and translate business goals and strategies, financial data and stakeholder inputs (including finance, marketing, store operations, logistics/allocation) to maintain best practice planning and analysis methodology

Other :

- Opportunity to work cross-functionally and get exposure to other areas of the organization outside of the merchandising group
- Responsible to support scheduled ad-hoc physical inventory counts across the chain

Job behaviours

Teamwork, relationship building & respect :

- Work effectively & cooperatively with others to achieve goals
- Establish & sustain positive working relationships; create community of mutual respect & spirit
- Build trust
- Value others
- Treat others with respect
- Demonstrate integrity

Customer service & sales focus :

- Make the needs of customers the primary focus of all actions
- Take responsibility to promote & sustain productive customer relationships & loyalty




- Understand targets, goals & take action to achieve
- Support & consistently demonstrate the Mastermind Toys customer experience philosophy

Technical Proficiency :

- Deliver, organized, systematic approach across all responsibilities
- Effectively communicate technical information to the non-technical
- Demonstrate sound judgement for routine and non-routine issues.

Qualifications :

- Post
- secondary degree, certificate or diploma required. Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain
- Experience with LS NAV is preferred
- Robust Excel skills required (including use of v-lookups, index-match and pivot tables). Knowledge of macros is a plus.
- 1-3 Years of Retail allocation analysis and/or a combination of retail buying and allocation experience is an asset
- Demonstrated proficiency in creating reports and analysis and providing practical recommendations
- Solid understanding of supply chain functions, forecasting and inventory management principles
- Proven ability to deliver results in line with overall strategy
- Demonstrated competence as it relates to, retail math, attention to detail, planning and analytical skills
- Able to deal with multiple priorities and use information-based judgment in decision-making
- Strong & clear verbal and written communication skills
- Toy and book product knowledge is an asset but not required

Working Relationships :

- Provides service to and works in cooperation with the Purchasing, Logistics, Store Operations, retail and other Play HQ function staff.

Effort & Working Conditions :

- Usually works standardized hours however, will be required to alter work hours to provide service, solve problems requiring immediate attention or complete pro

📌 Allocation Analyst (Scarborough)
🏢 Mastermind Toys
📍 Scarborough