Planner at Mr Price Group

Job Description
Mr Price Apparel - Planner

• Under general direction create the department's financial plan and execute the department's seasonal strategy by delivering an assortment based on history and future trends that optimizes sales and profit whilst effectively managing the inventory.

Responsibilities
The key responsibilities for this role include:

Current Trade:

• Extract & analyse financial KPI's & product performance against set plan by sub department season, category & sub category. 
• Compile a draft report highlighting all issues that have impacted performance. 
• Lead a discussion to develop an action plan that will maximize sales & profit. 
• Conclude the action plan out of this discussion that will include reforecasting financial plan iro sales, orders, stock, markdown planning going forward as well as inform key strategic input for forthcoming seasons. 
• Collaborate with location planning team to identify missed store opportunities & agree an action plan to correct missed opportunities. 
• Complete the current trade report for relevant management.
• Based on trade analysis reforecast items in replen tool and adjust parameters as required.       

Post Mortem & Seasonal Strategy:

• Collaborating with the location planner to review the previous season's zero based plan (ZBP) in order to conclude the previous seasons missed opportunities.
• Summarize in a post-mortem the previous seasons performance (sub dept. season KPI's) based off current trade reports & compile key lessons learnt.
• Develop a seasonal strategy for the sub department which will include strategic objectives, a top line financial plan which is aligned to the previous seasons post mortem, growth opportunities & trend direction. 
• Reconcile the seasonal strategy with the location planning strategy & the marketing strategy. 
• Lead the strategy discussion & agree the seasonal strategy to be presented to the management team ensuring it is aligned to key company growth initiatives.
• Adjust forecasts for continuing items in replen tool and complete the steps for all new items introductions.

Assortment, Booking & Product Allocation:

• Build the initial assortment plan in collaboration with the buying & location planning team ensuring that post mortem, agreed strategy, current trade, trend & external factors are considered. 
• Reconcile the assortment plan back to the merchant & location financial plan by checking that the key strategic ratios are consistently flowed through the season & across store profile. 
• As a team review, agree the assortment plan & assist with preparing the required presentation documents.
• Create all order lines for the season with your greater team ensuring accuracy in all detail inclusive of category & sub category detail, product attributes, size curve, cost prices, selling prices, and PMO. 
• Check all order placing activities & order authorizations are completed timeously according to calendar deadline requirements. 
• Collaborate with location planning team to ensure order allocations are completed timeously according to calendar deadline requirements.

Coaching & Development:

• Provide direction & mentorship to trainee planner & junior planner within your greater team.

Qualifications
Requirements:

• Degree in Finance/ Supply Chain

Specific knowledge:

• Professional Skills - Current Trade, Post Mortem, Build a Seasonal Strategy & Assortment.
• Technical Skills - Computer Literacy & Planning System
• Retail knowledge
• Brand & Product understanding