New Balance
Commercial Planning Director, EMEA
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Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
The Commercial Planning Director EMEA is responsible for building, leading and owning the Planning function across New Balance's EMEA commercial organisation. This is a defining leadership role — one that combines strategic vision, commercial rigour and transformational capability to create the planning engine that underpins our next phase of growth.
This role increases alignment across markets and builds the commercial intelligence infrastructure our ambition demands. The Commercial Planning Director will lead this transformation — developing the function and a high-performing team, and establishing the pan-EMEA planning standards, cadence and ways of working that will drive consistent, scalable growth across all markets and channels.
Sitting at the intersection of Sales, Category, Merchandising, Finance and Account leadership, this role demands an entrepreneurial mindset, enterprise thinking and the ability to translate commercial vision into data-driven action.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Build and Lead the EMEA Planning Function
- Lead the EMEA Commercial Planning function — establishing it as a centre of excellence and a competitive advantage for the business.
- Develop a high-performing team of Sales, Category & Business Planners across markets and channels.
- Define the EMEA planning operating model — governance, cadence, ways of working — ensuring clarity of accountability across the function, category, markets and account teams.
- Serve as a key voice on the EMEA Commercial Leadership Team, contributing to strategic direction and representing Sales Planning at the highest level.
- Drive a culture of accountability, enterprise thinking and continuous improvement within the team.
Own Pre-Season Planning and Commercial Strategy
- Lead end-to-end pre-season planning for the full New Balance EMEA portfolio across our sales channels.
- Partner with VP Sales EMEA, Merchandising and Finance to define pre-season assumptions, revenue targets and investment priorities.
- Establish structured account planning frameworks that align channel strategies with brand priorities and our growth agenda.
- Build and maintain a robust, integrated forecasting process that connects sell-in, sell-through and inventory across all EMEA markets.
- Lead the governance and rhythm of the planning calendar — ensuring alignment across Europe and enabling agile in-season adjustments.
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Drive Commercial Intelligence and Data-Driven Decision Making
- Build and oversee the EMEA commercial reporting suite — sell-through, inventory, reorder trends, market share and competitor benchmarking.
- Establish data standards, KPI frameworks and analytical toolkits that enable consistent insight generation across all EMEA markets, categories and channels.
- Transform complex data into sharp, executive-ready insights and commercial recommendations that inform VP and leadership-level decision making.
- Lead quantitative and qualitative analysis across products, consumers, categories and competitive landscape to identify growth opportunities and risks.
- Build a Commercial Planning community of practice across EMEA — sharing best-in-class tools, analytical frameworks and playbooks.
Maximise In-Season Commercial Performance
- Proactively identify and action in-season opportunities — re-orders, stock rebalancing, overstock mitigation — in partnership with sales and customer service teams.
- Build commercial action plans at account, category and market level to maximise revenue realisation across the season.
- Provide data-led recommendations to support strategic partners and market teams in distribution development and sell-out improvement.
Talent and Team Development
- Develop, manage and recruit as needed a high-performing Sales Planning team across EMEA, building depth, capability and succession across the function.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation and collaboration within the team and across cross-functional partners.
- Champion cross-border collaboration with NB associates globally, ensuring EMEA planning is connected to global commercial frameworks.
- Raise the analytical and commercial capability ceiling of the entire planning function over time.
Teams are based centrally and locally across several European markets.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
- Experience: Relevant number of years experience in Sales Planning, Commercial Operations or Business Planning within sports, footwear or fashion/FMCG, with significant EMEA or multi-market scope. Proven track record of building and developing a planning function.
- Commercial Mindset: A process-oriented approach to managing commercial performance, with deep understanding of sell-in/sell-through dynamics, P&L drivers, inventory management and the commercial KPIs that matter in wholesale and key account environments.
- Industry Knowledge: Preferably a strong understanding of the sporting goods and/or lifestyle retail landscape — customers, consumers and competitors — with genuine passion for the sports industry and the New Balance brand.
- Leadership: A credible, inspiring leader with a strong presence and the ability to build high-performing, cross-cultural and remote teams. Proven capability to develop talent, build clarity and drive accountability at all levels.
- Analytical & Data-Driven: Exceptional analytical capability — making complex data simple, actionable and compelling. Experienced in designing and implementing planning systems, tools and forecasting methodologies at scale.
- Influencing & Stakeholder Management: Results-driven with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships across Sales, Finance, Merchandising, Marketing and Customer Service.
- Transformation & Change: Has led or played a central role in organisational transformation — building new functions and developing ways of working.
- Enterprise Thinking: Thinks beyond the function — understands how Sales Planning connects to P&L outcomes, commercial strategy and brand health across a complex, multi-market region.
- Values: Values-driven leader who is resilient under pressure, adaptable to change and committed to the One New Balance culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Education: Degree educated preferable.
- Language: Fluent in English; additional European language(s) a strong advantage.
- Travel: Willingness to travel across EMEA as required (15%).
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BENEFITS:
Benefits will differ based on the location of the associate.
- Discretionary Bonus Opportunity
- Discount on the health insurance
- Flexible Working Hours
- Pension Scheme
- 25 days Annual Leave per year
- Hybrid working
- On-site Gym
- Employee Discount
- Flexibility to work 20 days from anywhere each year
- Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)
Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion. If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.
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