Assortment Planner: ROA at Woolworths

Introduction

• Translate the category strategy and create an optimal assortment based on customer demand to deliver improved customer satisfaction and optimised profit in our store network in the Rest of Africa.

Job description

• Manage the day-to-day Assortment Process to ensure the category strategy is reflected in the assortments per role of store.
• Be a key contributor to the end-to-end range review process.
• Integrate with Buyer and Planner to understand the impact of the ILC.
• Provide input into the clustering recommendations for the category (ies) and make recommendations to the relevant stakeholders.
• Understand the key strategic drivers for the category and turn them into effective and profitable assortment tactics.
• Optimise the input parameters that drive Assortment Optimisation (AO) as required which includes the types and accuracy standards of data required to allow AO to run effectively.
• Advise category team members on the best way to achieve the best results from the AO system.
• Conduct Impact Assessments
• Tap into the skillset of the Centre of Excellence team (COE) to stay abreast of leading assortment thinking and techniques.
• Attend all relevant training and meetings to ensure that new ways of assortment planning are incorporated into your ways of working.

Minimum requirements

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant Retail / FMCG experience
• Relevant tertiary degree or qualification
• Understanding of the operation of the RAO business will be beneficial
• Great understanding of the merchandising industry and good customer knowledge
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Strong commercial acumen and credibility
• Strong assortment planning skills with high ability to integrate
• Project management and process thinking skills
• Ability to influence others, build and sustain relationships across functional teams
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills
• Strong Retail / Commercial experience, preferable in Foods
• Previous retail management experience in the fields of assortment, range and merchandising with a large global retailer (Supermarket retail experience preferred)
• Good buying, planning or assortment planning experience (at least 3 years) within foods retailing
• Understanding and analysis of current & future techniques and trends
• Trend Analysis, the ability to analysis and review of past / historical information
• Some knowledge and understanding of consumer shopping habits; competitor activity and market players in the retail sector; consumer demographics
• The ability to analyse, interpret and optimize KPI's relevant to assortment plans  
• Range & Catalogue Management, the understanding of range construction, analysis and optimizing performance
• Understand themselves and the impact they have on the people they interact with and the organisation culture and adjust their behaviour accordingly.
• Plays a leading role in driving sustainable transformational initiatives at a BU level and/or Group level, and
• Is recognised by the leadership, peers and reports as competent and can hold their own with colleagues in their field.
• Builds strong networks and strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders and
• Engages and connects people to enable delivery of BU strategy and operating plan.
• Are consistent in their decision making and owns the consequences thereof due to strong business understanding and commercial knowledge.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and reacts to commercial issues within their BU.