Manager, Allocation

About Our Company

Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US and abroad. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear, apparel, and hard goods from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like New Era, 47’ Brand, Nike, and Mitchell & Ness. In addition, to our wide assortment, we are the industry leader in on demand customization.

We currently operate 1,300+ brick and mortar locations, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, and the two largest MLB franchises, via our Yankees & Dodgers Clubhouse. Here at Lid’s, we foster culture and community where fans, fashion, and culture collide.

General Position Summary

The Allocation Manager will lead a group of Allocation Analysts to build exceptional allocation strategies for our store fleet. This role ensures optional inventory levels by store to maximize sales, margin, and inventory productivity while minimizing markdowns. The manager will focus on developing talent and accountability to all members of their team. This person is a key partner with planning and buying leadership to implement assortment strategies. They will also focus on development of tools, best practices, and recommended actions to drive Lids forward into the future.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute allocation and replenishment strategies for licensed headwear and apparel to maximize sell-through, margin, and profitability while minimizing markdown exposure across the Lids store fleet.
• Analyze sales, inventory, and merchandise performance at the SKU, team, league, vendor, and store level to manage weeks of supply, stock-to-sales retios, and assortment effectiveness.
• Aggressively chase hot-market products by monitoring team performance, play of contention, and regional fandom trends in-season; quickly identify winning and losing teams and take decisive allocation and replenishment actions to drive incremental sales. 
• Identify and correct store‑level inventory imbalances through new receipts, replenishment, transfers, and targeted redistribution to ensure stores are in stock on core teams, key silhouettes, promotions, and seasonal moments. 
• Lead forward‑looking inventory forecasting and tiered, location‑specific assortment strategies, leveraging geographic demand, store attributes, and local team affinity to optimize inventory placement.
• Oversee and synchronize all merchandise movement, including DC‑to‑store replenishment, inventory transfers, and new‑store openings, while partnering cross‑functionally to ensure execution standards and best practices.
• Provide direct leadership to a team of Allocation Analysts, driving adoption of tools and processes, leading discussions on league, brand, and team trends, and supporting key item selection for daily and weekly replenishment.

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Fashion Merchandising or other related field and/or >4 years of applicable retail work experience
• 3+ Years of Allocation/Replenishment experience required.  Supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong Retail Math and Analytical skills.
• Ability to research and analyze large amounts of data.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrates strong curiosity and problem‑solving skills, using clear communication, rigorous logic, and a results‑driven mindset to learn quickly, adapt to change, and resolve challenges with accuracy and follow‑through.

Work Environment

• Onsite office work environment.
• Standard business hours from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., flexibility may be provided upon request.

Physical Demands and Travel Requirements

• Ability to constantly sit at a desk in a sedentary work environment
• Ability to frequently communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to view electronic/written materials and adjust focus when needed (i.e. computers screens, documents, etc.)
• Ability to frequently use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to occasionally stand and walk throughout the office.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move items up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to occasionally present information to small and large groups, including team members and leadership.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.