Director Sales & Ops Planning

OverviewOVERVIEWImagine. With over 1,200 stores throughout the U.S. and a thriving supply chain network, there has never been a greater need for people of high initiative, of big-picture thinking, and adaptability to share in our journey. At Ulta Beauty, we have greater ambitions. Growing what works. Iterating in areas that have promise. Creating new offerings for industry all of this is the opportunity to experience real impact, to effectuate change, to give wings to a spirit of creativity and entrepreneurism. Because the challenges are multi-faceted and ever-changing. But for those inspired by real-world demands that press and stretch, that call for new and smarter ideas, that require heavy doses of trust and respect, Ulta Beauty encourages you to imagine with us.The Impact You Can HaveThe Director of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) will be responsible for driving Ulta Beauty's Sales and Operations Planning function by developing a vision and strategy that supports the company's ongoing growth and success. This individual must possess strategic thinking abilities and be adaptable to change, actively seeking out new opportunities to expand the business. As an inspirational leader, they will motivate and guide a highly capable team, promoting innovative and centralized management of operational planning and merchandise flow within the Supply Chain Organization. Additionally, they will chart the course for the Supply Chain's advancement in this field.The Director of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) will oversee various areas, including Ulta Beauty's S&OP strategy, inventory flow planning, holiday/event planning, Supply Chain Contingency Planning, Supply Chain business continuity, DC capacity planning and management, the development of a long-term strategy for a sophisticated Supply Chain infrastructure, P&L management, and team leadership and development.Collaboration skills are essential for this role, as the Director will lead a team that consistently collaborates with executive leadership across Supply Chain, Stores, Store Ops, Merchandise Planning and Inventory, Finance, and Merchandising. They will be responsible for establishing and managing an integrated view of the Supply Chain S&OP portfolio and multi-year road-map. This integrated view will be crucial in successfully achieving Ulta Beauty's strategic and financial objectives within the Supply Chain. The Director will work closely with Senior Supply Chain leadership, Senior Enterprise leadership, and key cross-functional stakeholders to accomplish these goals.Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is a comprehensive business management process that ensures alignment and coordination among all organizational functions regarding merchandise flow.You’ll Accomplish These Goals ByIdentifying, establishing, and enhancing S&OP capabilities to support Ulta Beauty's overall business strategy.Developing and maintaining an S&OP short and long-term road-map, outlining the necessary timing and capabilities to facilitate future growth and deliver an exceptional guest experience.Leading the S&OP team in executing strategic initiatives focused on cost optimization and improving service and guest experienceLeading the strategic development and ongoing management of annual planning and budgeting activities for the S&OP team, including enterprise planning, budget allocation, and defining goals and objectives.Collaborating with internal business partners, including senior leaders, to create a long-term strategic planning road-mapthat identifies the required capabilities for future growth.Coordinating and oversee cross-functional planning and execution of merchandise flow, including event and holiday planning, and influence the design and execution of inventory flow strategies to ensure optimal product availability across stores and DCs.Take charge of planning and executing the product end-of-life cycle, as well as DC/Store and DC/DC transfers.Growing DC capacity forecasting and strategy to improve overall metrics and efficiencies, including identifying opportunities for automation, advanced analytics, and AI/ML planningWorking closely with Distribution, Transportation, Merchandise Operations, and Store Operations leadership teams to improve processes and enhance operational efficiency.Supporting the company's financial and strategic objectives by effectively planning and executing supply chain municating any issues and risks related to merchandise flow to senior leadership, maintaining direct and regular interaction with the Supply Chain leadership team.Leading the development of operational volume forecasts for the enterprise, considering factors such as DCs, Transportation, Finance, Merchandise Operations, and stores, to support labor and capacity planning.Leading weekly cross-functional operational review meetingsIdentify labor or capacity constraints, evaluate alternatives, and provide recommendations to optimize sales, service, costs, and inventory at the enterprise level.Developing scorecards and roadmaps for strategic initiatives, including key milestones, timelines, KPIs, sequencing, resource allocation, leadership touchpoints/approvals, risk mitigation, and reporting.Leading and developing a high-performing team, effectively communicating vision and priorities, fostering strong engagement, and driving exceptional results.Utilizing data and analytics to identify, evaluate, and recommend strategies for optimizing the supply chain network.Leading mid-range (3–18 months) planning to translate strategic initiatives into executable operational plans and align mid-range planning outputs with the long-term strategy and near-term S&OP cadence to ensure continuity across planning horizonsInfluencing the DC assortment strategy by aligning SKU DC placement with demand, transportation costs, and service targets and partnering with Merchandising and DC Operations to ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time.Creating strategic presentations and communications materials.Effectively communicate key supply chain decisions cross-functionally, as needed.The Essentials for SuccessBachelor's or Master’s degree from an accredited college with a focus on Strategy, Finance, or Supply Chain Management preferred (MBA preferred)Minimum 7-10 years of relevant experience in retail supply chain, operations management, or strategy consulting (4 years’ experience at a top-tier consulting firm preferred)Demonstrated ability to direct and control activities through managers of the functional areaDemonstrated ability to solve complex issues through analysis of situations or data that required in-depth knowledgeExtensive knowledge of leading best practices in supply chain network strategy and optimization, as well as project managementProvide strategic leadership across the enterpriseDemonstrated ability to develop creative solutions within and outside of own function; thrive in the face of complexity, ambiguity, and competing prioritiesDemonstrated ability to inform and influence key decisions that may have a longer-term impact on multiple functions across the organizationThought leadership with the ability to build robust plans and execute with speed, while communicating clear priorities and bringing others alongStrong strategic mindset, with critical reasoning and qualitative analysis experienceSelf-starter able to successfully execute against departmental goals with minimal guidanceComfortable working independently and in a collaborative, cross-functional mannerAble to influence and drive accountability among associates across multiple departmentsManage multiple projects/multiple presentation deadlines at one timeDevelop presentation materials for communicating strategies to key stakeholdersAble to work additional hours and weekends during critical project timesStrong interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), and analytical skills with a solid understanding of the financials of each segment of the supply chain.Enthusiastic, persistent, action-oriented, and with a strong sense of accountabilityStrong working knowledge in Word, Excel, Access, MS Project, PowerPoint, Power BI, SAP.This role is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and requires 6 days per month in the office.#LI-Hybrid#LI-JB2 #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-17