Senior Planner Job Cape Town area,South Africa,Supply Chain/Logistics

We are looking to employ a Senior Planner to work within our Supply Chain division. This role will be based at our Head Office in Woodstock, Cape Town and report to the Planning Manager.

Job Purpose

To deliver on the business's strategic objectives by developing annual Sales, Margin and Stock plans that are aligned to and support the overall operating Plan. To ensure that the agreed deliverables are met through daily / weekly tactical KPI management and problem solving, effective communication with stakeholders and by driving and tracking the performance of sales, purchases and managing import and local processes and deliverables.

Job

Objectives

To drive improvements in forecast accuracy and provide forecast insights and recommendations for monthly, quarterly, and yearly financial and budget process, including 3-year financial plan
To execute the degree of forward planning for wholesale, distribution and movement at a store level and thereby manage availability and allocation of products into stores.
To develop and maintain a monthly demand schedule by maintaining 18 months rolling forecast at supplier and product level.
To collaborate across the business with Commercial leads, Supply Chain, Finance, Suppliers
To lead the process of weekly Demand review files with Stock on hand, in transit and month to date sales including assessing stock prioritisation, pull forward orders and deferral requests based on demand movements to ensure overall business objectives related to sales, margin and working capital are achieved.
To work closely with the commercial team to review readiness of new launches
To attend monthly and bi-monthly supply review meetings and lead discussions with key product suppliers and compile supply planning related reports for monthly supplier engagements.
To track stock supply and manage demand replenishment orders to various suppliers.
To identify and review products with excess inventory and recommend a joint action plan with commercial team and suppliers to effectively mitigate business risk write off.
To communicate any irregularities, errors, purchase order management and vendor compliance factors that impact the receiving of stock thereby ensuring timely forecast and communication of unusual incoming volume to the relevant stakeholders to allow for adequate planning in the chain.
To maintain reports and housekeeping of data warehouses in the system that relates to reports.
To engage with the commercial and finance teams monthly, quarterly and annually related to the financial forecasting process and agree on base plan

Job Knowledge

Understanding of forecasting methods and applications, including statistical modelling
Systems, procedures, and best practice in Demand Planning
Understanding of customer demographics and shopping behaviours
Understanding marketing and business principles
In depth understanding of supply chain management practices
Computer literate – advanced Excel, BI, Planning systems
In depth understanding of current industry trends and technology (AI, ML, IOT), and how this impacts the future supply chain and demand planning specifically
Clear understanding of forecasting algorithms and other statistical inputs
Supplier collaboration and experience in successful joint forecasting
Understanding of import processes
Ability to work as a team and individually

Skills

Extensive FMCG demand planning, forecasting, and importing experience
Category management, sales and operations planning way of working (matrix organisations)
People leadership / management
Problem solving and analytical thinking
Financial planning and management in Retail
Buying and planning processes in Retail
Excellent business acumen