Sephora Manager, Planning
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Compensation
- $101,000–113,000/year
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Posted
- Sep 29, 2026
About Sephora
Sephora is a global prestige beauty leader, renowned for redefining the retail experience through creativity, inclusivity, and expert service. Founded in France and now part of LVMH, the company brings together an exceptional portfolio of beauty brands with a distinctive culture of discovery and innovation. As an employer, Sephora offers a dynamic, customer-centered environment where talent is encouraged to learn, experiment, and grow across retail, digital, merchandising, operations, and corporate functions. Its teams are united by a passion for beauty, entrepreneurship, and belonging, making Sephora a compelling workplace for professionals seeking impact within a fast-moving international brand.
Sephora Canada seeks an experienced Planning Manager to drive strategic growth and inventory optimization across its Canadian network. This hybrid role reports to the Director of Merchandising and requires coaching a team while owning demand forecasting, brand budget planning, and Open-to-Buy (OTB) management. The successful candidate will develop inventory strategies aligned with sales targets, manage store-level forecasts, oversee vendor communications, and lead newness and promotional launch planning across all beauty categories.
Role & Responsibilities
- Coach and develop a team as an inspiring people leader
- Partner with Director, Merchants, and vendors to build pre-season brand budget plans
- Own the monthly in-season Open-to-Buy (OTB) forecast and align sales and inventory with budgeted goals
- Manage store-level forecasts and orders across Canada to achieve financial targets and oversee ordering within OTB budget parameters
- Lead newness and launch forecasts and buys, supporting merchandising and promotional strategies
- Validate assortment productivity through analysis and recommendations on presentation, discontinuations, and new item development
- Develop allocation strategies that support inventory and merchandising goals for newness, animations, and promotional events
- Conduct seasonal hindsight analyses and provide monthly forward-looking forecasts to vendors
- Report weekly on business trends, stock continuity, and actions taken to address out-of-stocks
- Collaborate with Distribution Analyst and US Planners to ensure Canadian brand management aligns with broader organizational models
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business, retail management, or related field (MBA considered a strong asset)
- Minimum 5+ years of experience in retail planning and/or buying
- Advanced expertise in Excel and digital tools
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively across all organizational levels
- Comfort with AI-enabled tools and digital technologies
Skills
Experience
5+ years in retail planning, buying, or inventory management, with demonstrated success managing forecasts, budgets, and vendor relationships in a complex, multi-location retail environment.
Education
Bachelor's degree in business, retail management, or a related field; MBA considered a strong asset.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from CAD 101,000 to CAD 113,000 per annum.
Benefits
RRSP matching, 30% merchandise discount, medical/dental/vision/life/disability coverage, Well-Being@Sephora program, hybrid work schedule, flex days, maternity/paternity leave, Employee Assistance Program, and 24/7 access to mental health resources through Dialogue.
Culture
Sephora fosters a dynamic, inclusive workplace where creativity, curiosity, and a passion for beauty are encouraged at every level. As an employer, it is distinguished by its focus on empowerment, continuous learning, and a collaborative retail culture that celebrates individuality and client-centric innovation.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Sephora, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Inventory Planning Manager», «Demand Planner», «Retail Planner», «Brand Planning Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.