INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Planning Manager positions are at a 14% growth rate, which is faster than average. With that said, there are currently 907,600 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 124,400 to 1,032,000 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Planning Manager jobs was $87,660 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $50,990, and the highest 10% more than $156,840.
Our conclusion? The Planning Manager job market is wide open for candidates.
Top planning manager sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a strong planning manager experience section
Planning manager resume experience section: ultimate checklist
- Use no more than 4-6 bullet points per position;
- List relevant positions and situations that add value to your application;
- Describe situations, tasks, actions, and results (the S-T-A-R method);
- Remember to include numbers in whatever form you like (e.g. the number of projects you’ve finished);
- Begin each bullet point with an action verb.
Check out the examples below when building your experience section. They will help you stand out!
- Manage HP NB batteries demand supply planning with high complexity over 100 features and various unique cell sizes, NPI, E&O.
- Manage HP NB/DT Optical drive demand supply planning, NPI, E&O.
- Utilities system experience in APO system.
- Utilities Excel skills and is a numbers sensitive person.
- Be an essential role and team player in core team for horizontal and vertical matrix communication.
- Led a team of 4 customer demand planners.
- Improved our forecast processes using analytics to better capture trends and category insights to deliver the most realistic sales forecast for the MBP cycle and the factories. Improvement in forecast bias Month-3 lag.
- Strenghtened our customer relationships with strong alignment prior summer, clear contact strategy and E2E projects (Cost To Serve, On-Shelf Availability and Shelf Life derogations).
- As a part of a global team, managed the biggest restructure of sales group in company’s history delivering low double-digit % headcount and cost reduction from traditional businesses and ~5% targeted reinvestment towards growth areas;
- Led cross-functional team in development of a 3-year strategy for EMEA Sales group resulting in the path to incremental revenue growth of ~2% and 3% cost optimization (per annum);
- Deployed new headcount management and monitoring system for EMEA’s salesforce within tight deadlines to drive superior data quality for HC allocation decision-making;
- Developed an integrated data analytics hub that manages data from headcount, costs, Salesforce and commissions systems to provide ongoing view on sales teams utilization, cost and results;
- Managed a team of 6 direct and 5 indirect reports, providing financial planning and analytical support to 1000-strong Sales and Marketing Group in EMEA region, overseeing a budget in excess of $200m per annum and delivering >$4m of quarterly cost optimisations; In addition to the core role, acted as a Finance Business Manager providing end-to-end finance support to company’s storage and memory business in EMEA region;
- STORE PLANNING: Lead all the store design and planning activities (Feasibility, APS, APD, GC tender, business allocation, construction management, snagging and As built drawings).
- PEOPLE MANAGEMENT: coordinate internal teams and organize regular trainings / workshops / conventions.
- PROCESS: Design and implement efficient Retail Development Guidelines in order to streamline the way of working globally.
- CONCEPT: Roll out the third concept generation, define optimizations and perform regular value engineering. Imagine and design new retail formats such as pop up, mini boutique...
- BUDGET CONTROL: Monitor the Capex budget and report the latest spent on a monthly basis.
- SUPPLIERS: Develop and coordinate the retail suppliers network (furniture, local architects, design agencies, lighting designer, M&E Engineers...). Run the selection of a third design agency.
- COST EFFICIENCY: Monitor the retail development KPIs (Capex/sqm) in alignement with global average targets.
- INTERNAL COORDINATION: Being the main internal point of contact for all HQ functions (Finance, Procurement, Marketing, Trade, VM...) and organize regular meetings with them.
- RETAIL STRATEGY: Help the markets to design their five years plan in alignement with business expectations (CRM/Geomarketing).
- Planning & strategizing efficiently in order to drive the right solution for my clients
- The role also involves understanding brand's standing in the category and observe competition strategy to arrive at more holistic performance marketing plans to achieve results at an efficient cost
- Besides this, I am encompassed to take up strong negotiations with vendors / parties to ensure value addition in the plans
- Strategising on plans and approaches to pitch new clients
- In addition to the media planning role, my responsibility involves timely optimization to ensure best practices are being followed in the account and new initiatives
- Current client - ZEE5
- Leading the Data Science & Machine Learning team
- Developing data-driven insights & solutions with advanced analytics (Machine learning, Deep Learning and Statistical Models)
- Building, developing and maintaining data models, reporting systems, data automation systems, dashboards and performance metrics for support key business decisions
- Producing predictive and prescriptive analytics solutions
- Creating ETL packages to be fed from different sources
- Making optimized data warehouse modeling and creating data marts for feeding analytical environments
- Maximizing the value of the analytic products as a Product Owner
- Ensuring the team lives Agile principles as a Scrum Master
- 2IC for GM for Planning and Logistics in Executive meetings
- Summarise weekly trade and actions taken to improve performance for Executive Team
- Prepare and set Sales/GP targets for each Brand
- Forecasting business seasonal stock, and clearance rates for good/bad markdown
- Improve efficiencies through changing process and systems
- Project delivery and integration of a new planning systems, utilising Power BI to create reporting tools used across departments, and replacing the use of Maple Lake by the Buying Team.
- Change management of new ranging and allocation process
- Collaborated with our external software provider to integrate the new attributing into our DWH for reporting
- Developed a grading matrix based on sales and space applicable to all Brands
- Set store Budgets by department with Retail Operations and Finance
- Project lead on delivery and integration for a new planning forecasting system, working with third party to design a full price/markdown model for product planning with the ability to overlay location plans
- Design a new initial allocation model with a third party vendor, including ratio pack modelling, improving ST%, reducing handling costs and poly bags use in the supply chain
- Improve efficiencies through changing process and systems, testing data integrity and system calculations for both AP21 and new planning tool
- Management of the SABA planning team, and go to person for Executive team and business for all business planning related queries
- Mentor the planning team across all three brands
- Effective trading of all brands through COVID-19 lockdowns, preparing and setting Sales, GP and OTB targets for each Brand
- Driving the planning strategy for the SABA brand, working closely with Buying to ensure OTB and sales plans align with market trends
- Summarise weekly trade and actions taken to improve performance for Executive Team across all three brands
- Forecasting total business seasonal stock, clearance rates for good/bad markdown and terminal stock
- Drive promotional activity in reaction to trade, as well as preseason planning to align with key market activities
- Manage the product lifecycle from initial buy plan, through delivery to store and exit planning
- Create reporting tools used across departments, and replacing the use of Maple Lake by the Buying Team
- Change management of new ranging and allocation process
- Collaboration with our external software provider to integrate the new attributing into our DWH for reporting
- Developed a grading matrix based on sales and space applicable to all Brands
- Set store Budgets by department with Retail Operations and Finance
- Developed financial cost centers across all Delivery and Exchange centers
- Developed and initiated Sales and Operations Planning
- Developed Demand and Supply planning activities
- Initiated lean processes and outsourced operations not relevant to core competencies
- Created tools for supply chain planning and for supporting business requirement
- Created business continuity plans
- Implemented the new informational system for production and distribution planning (project leader). Result: zero mistakes in calculations because of human factor;
- Integrated supply and production planning functions into one team;
- Improved the KPIs: customer level from 94% to 97%, decreased expired goods level by eight times.
- Customer Negotiation
- Customer Requirement Administration
- Extraordinary Expenses Control
- DOH
- Obsolete Control
- Planning Manufacturing Strategies
- Prototypes, Samples and Mass production Control
- Customer Service
- IBP
- Implementation and development of an interla system to identify the obsolete risk and calculate the responsibility and increasing the amoun
- Developed and implemented all aspects of project planning and operational process for non-buying accounts in Los Angeles territory that lead to 32% conversion rate and 72% retention rate
- Instrumental in the roll-out of ZX brands (Mexicali, Bocanegra, Babe Wine) by data collection and analytics to develop a hyper-focused strategy
- Generated a 73% reduction in delivery and warehouse metrics by creating, planning and implementing a proactive sales process; better KPIs leads to better financials
- Oversees a team of up to 10 employees in the planning and guiding of logistical operations for a delivery and warehouse team of 70
- Works cross functionally with sales team as part of an integrated planning and delivery process
- Adept public speaker with strong presentation skills (At least 2x month, 3 in the past year have been to the VP of Logistics for Anheuser Busch)
- The Highest Planning Audit score (81) in the history of Beach Cities WOD, with Global Recognition by capitalizing on quick wins and building long term sustainable processes
- Oversaw all aspects of project planning and operational processes for non buys in Los Angeles territory that lead to 32% conversion rate and 72% retention rate in 2018
- Instrumental in the roll out of ZX brands (Mexicali, Bocanegra, Babe Wine) by data collection and analytics to develop a hyper-focused strategy
- 73% reduction in delivery and warehouse metrics by implementing a proactive sales process in 2019
- Oversees a team of up to 10 employees in the planning and guiding of logistical operations for a delivery and warehouse team of 70
- Works cross functionally with sales team as part of an integrated planning and delivery process
- Highest Planning Audit score (81) in the history of Beach Cities WOD, with Global Recognition
- Oversees all aspects of project planning and operational processes for non buys in Los Angeles territory that lead to 32% conversion rate and 72% retention rate in 2018
- Instrumental in the roll out of ZX brands (Mexicali, Bocanegra, Babe Wine) by data collection and analytics to develop a hyper-focused strategy
- Identifies opportunities for process improvements and lays plans in place to produce results
- 73% reduction in delivery and warehouse metrics by creating, planning and implementing a proactive sales process in 2019
- Oversees a team of up to 10 employees in the planning and guiding of logistical operations for a delivery and warehouse team of 70
- Works cross functionally with sales team as part of an integrated planning and delivery process
- Manage the performance side of Aviva's General Insurance business as main point of client contact for all day to day clients
- Responsible for building yearly strategy and cross-channel plans integrating econometric and attribution insight
- Manage and build team executive
- Social lead & Attribution lead on planning team
- Ensure knowledge distribution is present across wider agency team of 40+
- Leading delay analyst on a £20m dispute with TfL
- Providing expert forensic planning input into 4 other multi-million pound disputes
- Providing expert input into tenders
- Supporting creation of a dedicated Rail PMO team
- Process writing and implementation of tools and processes
- Providing planning direction, training and support to key members of the project team
- Managing a team of planners producing and monitoring programmes and planning activities, reviewing subcontractor and client programme submissions
PRO TIP
The person reading your Planning Manager resume will be busy, make sure you never waste their time with fluff.
Action verbs for your planning manager resume
Recommended reads:
Writing a strong skills section for your planning manager resume
Checklist for your Planning Manager skills section:
- Include all relevant skills from the job description to pass ATS;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise;
- List your technical skills in a clear and concise manner;
- Leave room for transferable skills related to teamwork, communication, negotiation, and conflict management.
Top skills for your planning manager resume
SQL
Microsoft office
Tableau
Salesforce
Jira
Google Analytics
Project Management
Time Management
Interpersonal Communication
Decisiveness
Delegation
Patience
Creativity
Self-motivation
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Planning manager resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your planning manager resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your Planning Manager resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
The ideal summary for your planning manager resume
Mastering the summary section: checklist
- Mention the total years of experience you have in the field;
- Focus on 2 to 3 of your top achievements;
- Highlight the things that make you the best fit for the position;
- Go for short, easy-to-read sentences to keep the recruiter’s attention.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary should act as an elevator speech, briefly promoting how you will benefit the employer if hired. Pitch your strengths in the summary and expand on them in your Planning Manager experience section. Give examples like how your work benefited each employer.
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Things to include in your planning manager resume education section
Planning manager resume education section checklist:
- Mention your highest education degree;
- Add the duration of your course and the institution you attended;
- List the awards you’ve received during your studies;
- Feature your certifications if they are relevant to the position;
- Entry-level positions: Share more about projects and classes.
Top certifications for your planning manager resume

Plan the Project as a Business Analyst
Increase your value as a Business Analyst by learning how to plan projects successfully without a Project Manager

Microsoft Endpoint Manager Training with Complete Concepts
Microsoft Endpoint Manager for Beginners -Configuration Manager SCCM, Microsoft Intune, Desktop Analytics, Co-management

Stakeholder Management for Project Managers
Effective tools for project start: stakeholder analysis and engagement, communication plan, project charter

Product Launch: How to Go to Market Product Marketing Plan
Marketing Strategy, Product Marketing, Product Marketing Manager, Product Management, Product Manager Marketing Plan MBA

Cyber Security for Managers: Tools for Cyber Action Plan
Learn, train and check your Cyber security daily! Course for non-programmers
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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Formatting your Planning Manager resume
What’s worse than a .docx resume? A resume with a poorly chosen format.
In general, there are three basic resume formats we advise you to stick with:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Choosing between them is easy when you’re aware of your applicant profile – it depends on your years of experience, the position you’re applying for, and whether you’re looking for an industry change or not.
The reverse-chronological resume format is just that – all your relevant jobs in reverse-chronological order. It’s great for applicants with lots of experience, no career gaps, and little desire for creativity.
When working with less experienced applicants, we suggest the functional skills-based resume format. It’s great for recent graduates or people with large career gaps. Functional skills-based resumes focus on your personality, the skills you have, your interests, and your education. Ultimately, the idea is to show you’re the perfect fit without putting too much emphasis on your work experience (or lack thereof).
If you’re in the middle or are generally looking to make your resume feel more modern and personal, go for the combination or hybrid resume format. It offers the best of both worlds by combining sections focused on experience and work-related skills and at the same time keeping space for projects, awards, certifications, or even creative sections like ‘my typical day’ and ‘my words to live by’.
Planning Manager Resume Formatting Checklist
- Choose the resume format based on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for
- Go for a traditional 10-12p font
- Stick to 1-inch page margins to ensure high readability
- Match the length of your resume to your experience, but don’t go for more than two pages!
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Planning Manager resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Additional sections for your planning manager resume
In some cases, especially when it comes to entry-level positions, adding more sections beyond the usual ‘experience’, ‘skills’, and ‘education’ works well in your favor. Such additional sections will help you paint a fuller picture of who you are in the recruiter’s head.
Here’s a list of fun yet informative additional sections for your resume:
Making your planning manager resume creative
We know too well that recruiters go through tons of resumes every day. The worse part is, they often need to hire people for different positions and teams. So how do you make yourself stand out in such cases?
By adding a dash of creativity to your Planning Manager resume. It can be in the form of a colorful layout, a section describing your typical day, or even a picture of your favorite book – you decide!
Just make sure that the levels of creativity match the industry, company, and position you’re applying for.
What makes a great planning manager resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.