Senior Central Planner - The FIX
The Central Planner III is responsible for leading the management of pre-season and in-season store plans and identifying opportunities for stock turn improvements. They oversee the preparation of pre-season store plans, manage and strategize new and revamp store viabilities, and collaborate with the allocation team to execute allocation and assortment strategies. They also mentor and guide junior planners
- Lead the management of pre-season and in-season store plans.
- Identify and implement opportunities for stock turn improvements.
- Oversee the preparation and execution of pre-season store plans.
- Manage and strategize new store openings, revamps, and store viability assessments.
- Collaborate with the Allocation team to develop and execute allocation and assortment strategies.
- Monitor, analyse, and optimise store stock levels and performance to drive commercial outcomes.
- Develop, maintain, and enhance dashboards and reporting tools using Power BI, Qlik Sense, or similar Business Intelligence platforms.
- Compile, analyse, and present Management Packs, trading reports, and business performance insights to key stakeholders.
- Transform complex datasets into actionable business insights and strategic recommendations.
- Provide data-driven analysis to support business planning, forecasting, inventory management, and decision-making.
- Partner closely with Merchandise Planning, Buying, Allocation, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment with overall merchandise strategy.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across multiple business functions, influencing decision-making at all levels.
- Present findings, recommendations, and performance updates to both operational and leadership teams.
- Identify business risks and opportunities through robust analytical and reporting practices.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging data, analytics, and commercial insights.
- Provide strategic feedback and recommendations to improve store performance, inventory productivity, and profitability.
- Mentor, coach, and develop junior planners, fostering a high-performance planning culture.
- Minimum relevant tertiary qualification
- Tertiary qualification in Data Analytics, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field would be advantageous
- Minimum 5 years' relevant experience within a planning, analytics, merchandise planning, or retail environment
- Proven experience developing and managing Location Plans Proven experience creating and implementing allocation Strategies would be advantageous
- Experience creating dashboards using Power BI, Qlik Sense, or similar business Intelligence tools
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical and reporting capabilities
Skills:
- Analytical Skills
- Commercial Acumen
- Advanced Excel & BI Reporting
- Inventory & Stock Management
- Forecasting & Planning
- Stakeholder Management
- Data Interpretation & Insights
- Problem Solving
- Strategic Thinking
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Presentation & Communication Skills
- Leadership & Mentoring
Behaviours:
- Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
- Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
- Builds Networks - establishes and nurtures internal and external relationships in order to create robust, and mutually beneficial, partnerships
- Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
- Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
- Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
- Ensures Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets
- Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems
- Organisational Savvy - understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people
- Situational Adaptability - effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
- Strategic Mindset - thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation
Preference will be given but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act