Job Title: Director of Planning, Drug - L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty (LDB) 

Division: L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty 

Location: Remote: Chicago or Northeast

Reports To: VP, Field Sales, Drug 

Who We Are:  

For more than a century, L’Oréal has devoted its energy, innovation, and scientific excellence solely to one business: Beauty. Our goal is to offer each and every person around the world the best of beauty in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility to satisfy all beauty needs and desires in their infinite diversity.  

At L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, our mission is to help everyone in their quest for healthy and beautiful skin. Our division is the world leader in dermo-cosmetics by adding health to beauty. Our brands portfolio includes CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Vichy, SkinCeuticals and Skinbetter Science offering a range of skincare and haircare products to respond to all expectations linked to beauty and health of the skin.  

What You Will Do: 

The Director of Planning plays a critical role in driving sales and operational efficiency within the L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty division, specifically for the Drug channel. This role encompasses strategic oversight and hands-on management of planning processes, including demand forecasting, business plan development, Joint Business Planning (JBP) support, and financial management. The Director will collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment between business objectives and operational execution, with a strong focus on data-driven insights, continuous improvement, and maximizing ROI.   

Key Responsibilities:  

Demand Forecasting and Modeling:  

• Develop and maintain accurate sales forecasts for the Dermatological Beauty portfolio within the Drug channel, incorporating input from sales teams, market analysis, and historical data. 
• Develop reports and dashboards to monitor progress, identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making. 
• Prioritize proactive data creation and analysis over extensive data pulling. 
• Foster a self-sufficient approach to forecast development and refinement. 

Business Plan Development & Execution:  

• Lead the development and execution of annual business plans for the Dermatological Beauty portfolio in the Drug channel, aligned with overall brand and corporate strategies. 
• Review Growth to Net (G2Ns), ensure APEX compliance, address ad-hoc business needs, and analyze consumption versus shipments to optimize planning. 

Joint Business Planning (JBP) Support:  

• Consolidate monthly JBP performance against the plan and provide insights and presentations to support ongoing buyer conversations and quarterly reviews within the Drug channel. 
• Evaluate and recommend adjustments to P&L for the Dermatological Beauty portfolio. 
• Scenario plan and recommend business options with quantified JBP implications. 
• Build, track, and actualize assumptions underlying JBP strategies. 

APEX Financial Management (Trade Spend):  

• Evaluate event performance, cost projections, and ROI to optimize trade spend efficiency within the Drug channel for the Dermatological Beauty portfolio. 
• Analyze budgeted spend variations and quantify investment needs based on forecast fluctuations. 
• Contribute to building, tracking, and interpreting assumptions that shape APEX strategies. 

Deduction Management and Dispute Resolution:  

• Assist with Commercial escalation of the deduction management processes for the Dermatological Beauty portfolio within Target, ensuring accuracy and timely resolution. 
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to resolve deduction disputes. 
• Schedule and lead customer meetings to drive the resolution process. 
• Document and track dispute resolution steps for future reference and process improvement. 

Cross-functional Collaboration:  

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and other relevant functions, specifically focused on the Dermatological Beauty division within the Drug channel. 
• Effectively communicate planning assumptions, forecasts, and potential risks to ensure alignment and informed decision-making. 

• Collaborate with other Directors of Planning to create best in class uniform processes, reports and dashboards across the division to aid in strategic decision-making. 

Overall Planning Support for Drug Team  

• Consolidate and collate information from brands and account team into a streamlined and usable format for Commercial VP. 
• Create and deliver presentations to communicate key findings, recommendations, and business updates related to the Dermatological Beauty division in the Drug channel to various audiences, including senior management and external partners. 

What We Are Looking For: 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or a related field; MBA preferred. 
• 7+ years of experience in demand planning, business planning, or a related field within the consumer goods or beauty industry, with a proven track record in the Drug channel and preferably with experience in skincare or dermatological products. 
• Strong analytical, forecasting, and modeling skills, with a focus on data-driven decision-making. 
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and planning/forecasting software. 
• Experience with key Drug retailers is a strong plus. 

As an integral part of our culture at L’Oréal, wellness is at our core. We not only offer a generous Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K), we also offer flexible time off, work from home days, and a pension plan! Additionally, you will have access to company perks such as Makeup, Skincare, and Fragrance! Employees receive a stipend for L'Oréal products as well as VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, and other perks such as Monthly Mobile Allowance, discounted gym memberships, and ERGs. 

Additional Benefits Information As Follows: 

Salary Range: $116,800 – 143,905 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)   

• Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)  
• Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home) 
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)  
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)  
• Learning & Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)  
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)  
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs   

Don’t meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles! 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We would love to find out more about you as a candidate and do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected status. 

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