Junior Demand Planner - (Baby/Health) at Clicks Group

Introduction

• Clicks is on the hunt for a Junior Demand Planner, to ensure effective demand and statistical forecasting for assigned categories in order to drive profitability through increased sales, improved margins, and working capital productivity.

Job description

• To be accountable for forecast accuracy within the allocated categories
• To be accountable for optimized inventory levels within the allocated categories and minimum order quantity within the allocated categories
• To partner with the Category Managers on the development of pre-season sales, markdown, margin, and inventory plans
• To analyze and propose to the merchandising department top line shifts in the assortment investment at the category level
• At the category level monitor projections, inventory flow and seasonal sell-off plans as well as validate monthly forecast for open to buy management
• To recognize and reconcile forecast exceptions to track and manage sales against forecast and validate forecast for OTB management
• To determine causal factors impacting forecasts and respond appropriately, (weather, moving events, promotions etc.)
• To ensure effective stakeholder management and engagement in order to determine trends, identify new products, evaluate risks and determine inventory and replenishment requirements
• To generate and deliver accurate and timely management reports and maintain key metrics against goals in order to analyze forecast performance and ensure forecast accuracy and inventory optimization
• To effectively analyze post promotional and event data to determine opportunities and improve future forecasts
• To effectively lead and prepare for the consensus forecast meetings with key stakeholders in order to enhance key insights and decisions taken
• To ensure the effective execution of the range review process and decision making in order to assist the Category Team to determine optimal range

Minimum requirements

EDUCATION 

• Diploma in Purchasing/Business Management Financial/Retail Management (Desirable)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Math, Decision Science, Marketing, Business, related area or equivalent experience

JOB EXPERIENCE 

• Strong planning and buying experience with solid understanding of financial and statistical analysis of both
• 1 - 3 years’ experience with in Demand Planning in a retail / FMCG environment
• Distributions requirement planning and other supply chain processes such as production planning, scheduling and transportation
• Supply chain software knowledge ( BY / EP) advantageous (Desirable)

JOB RELATED KNOWLEDGE

• Retail / FMCG Demand Forecasting, Supply Chain and Logistics
• Data analysis models
• Ability to understand and fine tune algorithms for optimal forecast performance
• Execution of the new stores / lines / products process using required commercial acumen
• Understanding of the consistent management and planning of the supplier base performance metrics, promotional planning cycle, product lifecycle, supply chain optimization for their products, business analysis and reporting
• Financial planning models and methodologies (Desirable)
• Understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share (Desirable)

JOB SKILLS 

• Causal factor determination and event driven adjustments
• Deep analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups
• Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business  decisions
• Forecasting consumer trends and buying habits 9 – 24 months in the future
• Complex decision making based on statistics, trends and opinions
• Presentation skills with focus being on oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point, spreadsheets, databases
• Complex Problem solving
• Retail financial & mathematical calculations (e.g. variance to last year, percent of total, turn, Open-to-Buy)
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills

COMPETENCIES 

• Deciding and Initiating Action 
• Persuading and Influencing 
• Presenting and Communicating Information 
• Analysing
• Planning and Organising 
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations 
• Adapting and Responding to Change 
• Coping with Pressures and Setbacks 
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking