Manager, eCommerce Planning at Massmart

Summary:

• The Manager, eCommerce Planning is responsible for driving sales and demand planning, inventory management, promotional execution, and performance analytics to optimize the eCommerce business within a large omni-channel wholesale retailer. The role ensures that products, promotions, and stock are planned effectively to maximize revenue and customer experience. 

Functions / Responsibilities:

Sales & Demand Planning

• Analyse historical sales data and market trends to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure optimal stock availability. 
• Interpret business goals and customer buying patterns to align sales plans with revenue targets and improve profitability. 
• Collaborate with category managers and marketing teams to align product visibility with demand projections and enhance customer engagement. 
• Manage seasonal, promotional, and category-specific forecasts to ensure planned stock aligns with expected demand and prevents stockouts. 
• Monitor competitor activity and industry trends to adjust sales plans and maintain a competitive advantage. 
• Assess demand variability across different eCommerce channels to refine forecasting models and enhance accuracy. 
• Communicate forecast changes and risks to internal stakeholders to facilitate proactive decision-making and inventory planning.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Monitor stock levels and sales performance to ensure inventory is optimally allocated and reduces fulfilment delays. 
• Coordinate with supply chain teams to align stock replenishment schedules and prevent overstocks or understocks. 
• Ensure real-time stock accuracy across fulfilment centres and online storefronts to maintain a seamless shopping experience. 
• Identify high-risk SKUs that require prioritization in stock planning to mitigate availability issues. 
• Report weekly and monthly inventory metrics to stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. 
• Improve stock planning methodologies using data-driven insights to enhance supply chain responsiveness.

Promotional & Merchandising Planning 

• Ensure that promotions are effectively priced, positioned, and communicated on the eCommerce platform to enhance conversion rates. 
• Assess the performance of past promotions to refine future planning and improve return on investment. 
• Identify key promotional periods and category-specific opportunities to maximize sales potential and customer engagement.
• Collaborate with digital marketing teams to align promotional efforts with paid media strategies and amplify reach. 
• Monitor real-time promotional effectiveness to adjust offers dynamically and improve performance. 
• Report on promotional results, insights, and learnings to drive continuous improvement in campaign execution.

Performance Monitoring & Analytics

• Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as conversion rates, basket size, and margin performance to optimize strategies. 
• Interpret customer behavior data to refine sales and merchandising strategies for improved customer experience. 
• Develop reporting dashboards that provide actionable insights on sales, stock, and promotional effectiveness. 
• Assess the impact of site changes on business performance to make data driven recommendations for optimization
• Ensure timely and accurate performance reporting to support business planning and decision-making. 
• Identify trends and anomalies in performance data to highlight risks and opportunities for strategic intervention. 
• Present insights and recommendations to leadership teams to drive data informed decision-making. 
• Improve reporting processes and automation to increase efficiency and accuracy in performance tracking.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Consult with category management, buying, and supply chain teams to align business objectives with planning strategies. 
• Collaborate with marketing teams to ensure site content and campaigns align with stock and sales plans. 
• Act as a key liaison between eCommerce operations and fulfilment teams to enhance service levels. 
• Ensure alignment between digital and physical retail planning to create a seamless omni-channel experience. 
• Support internal teams with data insights and planning expertise to enable informed decision-making. 
• Influence business strategies by providing relevant market and performance insights. 
• Lead cross-functional meetings and planning discussions to drive alignment and collaboration. 

Process & System Optimization 

• Identify inefficiencies in forecasting and planning processes to enhance accuracy and agility. 
• Improve demand planning tools and methodologies using predictive analytics and automation. 
• Implement new technologies and data-driven approaches to optimize planning accuracy and operational efficiency. 
• Develop scalable processes that support business growth and expansion into new categories. 
• Monitor system-generated reports for accuracy and data integrity to enhance decision-making confidence. 
• Ensure continuous process improvements that enhance agility in responding to market changes. 
• Standardize best practices in eCommerce planning to improve consistency and execution. 
• Train internal stakeholders on planning tools, processes, and methodologies to enhance capability.

Requirements:

Minimum Academic, Professional Qualifications and Experience required for this position 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field. 
• A postgraduate qualification in Retail, eCommerce, or Supply Chain Management is advantageous. 

Experience: 

• 5+ years of experience in eCommerce planning, demand forecasting, merchandising, or supply chain management within a retail or wholesale environment. 
• Proven track record in sales and inventory planning, with experience in managing demand fluctuations, stock allocation, and promotional execution. 
• Experience working in an omnichannel retail environment, understanding the interplay between online and offline sales, inventory, and customer behavior. 
• Strong analytical background, with experience using BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar) and forecasting software. 
• Hands-on experience with eCommerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or proprietary systems) for stock and promotional planning. 
• Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams to drive business performance. 
• Experience in promotional planning and execution, including markdown strategies, seasonal sales events, and new product launches. 
• Understanding of customer insights and market trends to inform demand planning and assortment strategies. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment, making data-driven decisions to optimize performance. 
• Experience in process and system optimization, identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements in demand forecasting and stock planning. 

Competencies and Skills

Core Competencies: 

• Strategic Thinking 
• Data Analysis 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration 
• Decision-Making 
• Adaptability 
• Problem-Solving 
• Communication 
• Leadership 
• Results-Driven 
• Innovation 

Skills

• Demand Forecasting 
• Inventory Management 
• Promotional Planning 
• eCommerce Analytics 
• Process Optimization 
• Stakeholder Management 
• Assortment Planning 
• Financial Acumen 
• Market Trend Analysis 
• Performance Reporting