Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Uniform Planner

🎯 Role Definition

The Uniform Planner is responsible for end-to-end planning and execution of corporate uniform programs, balancing supply chain efficiency, cost control, inventory optimization, and employee experience. This role owns forecasting, procurement, vendor relationships, allocation strategies, size profiling, distribution logistics, and data-driven decision making to ensure the right garments arrive at the right location, in the right quantities and quality — on time and within budget. The Uniform Planner partners closely with HR, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and external suppliers to deliver scalable, compliant, and sustainable uniform solutions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Inventory Planner or Replenishment Analyst (Retail or Corporate Uniforms)
Supply Chain Analyst or Logistics Coordinator
Assistant Merchandiser / Production Planner in Apparel or Workwear

Advancement To:

Senior Planner / Lead Uniform Planner
Uniform Program Manager or Merchandising Manager (Workwear)
Supply Chain Manager / Head of Uniform Operations
Director of Global Sourcing or Head of Workplace Experience

Lateral Moves:

Vendor/ Supplier Relationship Manager
Procurement Specialist (Apparel/Textiles)
Logistics/Distribution Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and maintain monthly and rolling 12–24 month demand forecasts for all uniform categories by location and employee cohort, using historical usage, onboarding schedules, seasonality, promotional events, and HR workforce plans to drive inventory targets.
Create and execute replenishment plans across multiple distribution centers and service locations to maintain optimal service levels while minimizing excess stock and obsolescence for size assortments and SKUs.
Manage end-to-end purchase order lifecycle — from requisition through supplier confirmation, quality acceptance, shipment scheduling, and invoice reconciliation — ensuring timely delivery against lead times and contract terms.
Collaborate with HR and operations stakeholders to align uniform issuance cadence with onboarding, role changes, and seasonal staffing fluctuations, ensuring provisioning plans meet business commitments.
Maintain and optimize size run and SKU rationalization strategies, using fit data, returns, and usage metrics to improve assortment efficiency and reduce mismatches and returns.
Operate and maintain uniform inventory in ERP/WMS systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), ensuring master data accuracy, SKU attributes, stock locations, lead times, and safety stock calculations.
Analyze service level KPIs (fill rate, days of inventory, stockouts, excess inventory, order lead time) and produce weekly/monthly performance reports and actionable insights for stakeholders.
Negotiate contracts, pricing, and lead times with suppliers and freight partners, balancing cost objectives with quality, sustainability, and on-time delivery requirements.
Lead new product introduction (NPI) processes for uniform updates or new styles — coordinating tech packs, fit sessions, quality checkpoints, sample approvals, and pilot distributions.
Design and execute allocation algorithms and rules for initial shipments and replenishments, prioritizing critical locations, high-turnover roles, and compliance-driven needs.
Oversee returns and repair programs including reverse logistics, refurbishment workflows, warranty/defect handling, and disposal or recycling strategies to reduce waste and recover value.
Conduct supplier performance management using scorecards and quarterly business reviews, driving continuous improvement on quality, lead time adherence, defect rates, and responsiveness.
Manage uniform program budgets, forecasting spend by quarter and year, monitoring actual vs. plan, and implementing cost-savings initiatives such as consolidation or vendor rationalization.
Ensure compliance with corporate policy, safety standards, labeling and regulatory requirements (flame resistance, PPE certifications), and maintain audit-ready documentation for uniform programs.
Serve as the point of contact for on-the-ground uniform issues, resolving escalations involving sizing, fulfillment errors, damaged shipments, or contractual disputes promptly and diplomatically.
Coordinate with the design/merchandising team and external suppliers to support fabric and trim sourcing decisions that balance durability, cost, comfort, and sustainability objectives.
Implement and maintain barcode/RFID tagging strategies and cycle count programs to maintain inventory accuracy and improve traceability across the uniform lifecycle.
Lead cross-functional projects to automate manual processes (ordering, sizing surveys, returns processing) using digital tools and integrations, and define business requirements for system enhancements.
Build and maintain accurate size profiles and allocation templates by job role, region, and gender, leveraging survey data and historical usage to reduce fit-related returns.
Monitor market trends and benchmark competitor uniform programs to recommend innovations (sustainable materials, modular components, multi-season garments) that enhance employee satisfaction and program value.
Provide training and documentation for local operations, HR partners, and service center teams on ordering processes, sizing protocols, and inventory reconciliation practices.
Manage emergency replenishment and contingency planning for critical failures (supplier disruption, product recall) to minimize operational impact and preserve continuity of uniform supply.
Drive pilot programs and A/B tests for new fulfillment models (centralized vs. decentralized distribution, kiosk issuance, e-commerce ordering) and measure outcomes to guide broader rollouts.
Partner with sustainability and compliance teams to implement circular economy initiatives such as repair hubs, buy-back programs, and supplier audits for social and environmental compliance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Maintain up-to-date playbooks and SOPs for seasonal planning, supplier onboarding, and size survey execution.
Assist HR in scale-up planning for new site openings, ensuring uniform readiness and allocation timing aligns with operational go-live dates.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced proficiency in inventory planning and replenishment methodologies (safety stock, EOQ, min/max, demand smoothing).
Strong experience with ERP and WMS systems (examples: SAP MM/WM, Oracle Cloud, NetSuite, Manhattan) for order management and inventory control.
Forecasting and demand planning tools knowledge (e.g., forecasting modules, statistical forecasting, Excel-based models).
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VBA/macros, complex formulas) and experience with data manipulation for planning scenarios.
Experience with analytics and visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker) to build dashboards and KPI reports.
SQL fluency for extracting and validating large datasets to support allocation decisions and root cause analysis.
Familiarity with PLM or merchandising systems and NPI workflows used in apparel or workwear environments.
Vendor and contract management skills, including creating RFPs, negotiating SLAs, and managing supplier KPIs.
Knowledge of garment construction, size fit principles, and textile durability testing to support quality assessments and vendor conversations.
Practical understanding of logistics and freight management, including import/export documentation, Incoterms, and lead time optimization.
Experience implementing barcode/RFID or serialized inventory control systems to improve traceability and inventory accuracy.
Budget planning and cost control skills — forecasting spend, tracking variances, and implementing cost reduction initiatives.
Basic project management skills with experience running cross-functional projects and delivering to timelines and milestones.

Soft Skills

Exceptional stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills; able to translate operational needs into executable plans and influence without direct authority.
Strong analytical mindset with problem-solving orientation and the ability to prioritize multiple competing demands.
Clear and persuasive written and verbal communication; experience presenting complex planning insights to senior leadership.
High attention to detail, especially in SKU master data, size profiles, and order accuracy.
Customer-focused approach with empathy for employee fit and experience issues, balancing service level targets and cost control.
Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced operational environments and during supply chain disruptions.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to manage vendors and escalate issues judiciously.
Time management and organizational skills to manage recurring planning cycles and ad-hoc emergency requests.
Continuous improvement mindset; enjoys analyzing root causes and implementing standardized solutions.
Ethical and compliance-focused, comfortable handling audit processes and documentation for regulatory checks.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Textile/Apparel Merchandising, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree plus a relevant certification (APICS/CPIM, CSCP, CPSM) or a Master’s degree in Supply Chain/Logistics, Business Administration, or Textile Technology.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Apparel/Textile Merchandising
Business Administration
Industrial Engineering
Logistics & Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in inventory planning, demand forecasting, or production planning within apparel, retail, corporate uniform programs, or workwear supply chains.

Preferred:

5+ years specifically managing uniform or apparel supply chains, vendor portfolios, or corporate uniform programs.
Demonstrated experience with ERP/WMS systems and analytics tools, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional program management.
Prior exposure to NPI processes, quality assurance frameworks, and sustainability or circularity initiatives in textile or commodity-driven supply chains.