Senior Planner: Foodservices at Woolworths

Aggregate operational data, provide recommendations on additional reporting and make recommendations on possible courses of action based on business results.

In addition, implement and execute trading opportunities in Foodservices by providing accurate forecasts of customer demand through management by exception, optimising inventory management through the supply chain and store catalogues within defined parameters. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop specific knowledge about the foodservices portfolio, including physical configuration, technology and operational processes
• Understanding theoretical recipe costs by incorporating inventory portioning and theoretical yields into each menu item
• Using Menu Engineering to modify product mix to optimize profitability
• Analyzing pricing model across product mix to ensure sufficient contribution margins to reach financial goals 
• Using data, analyze and make recommendations to improve front-of-house and back-of-house processes
• Monitor and identify trends on results
• Identify opportunities to change existing product offering, price or distribution
• Partner with the Consumer Insights team to leverage market research and guest sentiment for business optimization
• Prepare and present findings to management
• Managing or directly completing ad hoc analytics projects as appropriate
• Integrate and operationalise the Food Services operating plan effectively
• Optimise the continuous availability of product in the department to meet Customer demand
• Contribute to the Department Plan with a specific focus on planning objectives and requirements
• Assist department team to prioritise objectives and resources to deliver operating plan, both from a product and people perspective
• Define, set and monitor product flow models & integrate with Supply Chain and cross functional team to ensure delivery of the department plans
• Achieve the stretch budgets and targets for the team
• Set, Monitor and Deliver inventory plans and achieve all inventory targets (Sales, Service levels, Stock cover, Forecast accuracy, Waste, Availability, ROII) in line with Customer availability objectives for the Category Operating Plan– Pre trading period/During/Post trading period
• Ensure accurate Planning static information is maintained for all product – (Organic, Imports, Order Volume etc.) During trading period
• Provide input and influence the replenishment processes and forecasting algorithms and key inventory levers - Pre and During trading period
• Complete the analysis of historical performance (KPAs sales, stock margin, stock turn, sell throughs, promotion activity including key business indicators) to feedback to trading team to ensure if any, risks are considered in the development of future plans. - Pre and Post trading period
• Participate & influence in all department reviews by ensuring that the Planning KPI’s analysis is ready for the reviews. - Pre and Post trading period 

Key Competencies:

• B.Com Degree in business analytics, computer science, statistics, economics, finance, or a related field
• 3 – 5 years planning experience with emphasis on perishables planning
• Working experience as a Data Analyst or Business Data Analyst would be advantageous
• Technical expertise regarding data models, database design development, data mining and segmentation techniques
• Knowledge / exposure to operations in Foodservices or similar would be advantageous
• Knowledge of statistics and experience using statistical packages for analyzing datasets
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy
• Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings
• Very good business acumen, judgement and problem solving skills
• Very good team player, demonstrates integration skills in all interactions
• Good knowledge of supply chain operations i.e. Suppliers, DC, Stores and understands the supply chain concepts and values
• Flexibility and willingness to participate in team initiatives / store openings which may fall outside of one’s primary role
• Ability to deliver good results under stressful situations
• Proven ability to effectively use a statistical forecasting tool
• Proven ability to evaluate availability and waste metrics and implement integrated solutions that deliver category profitability targets
• Proven ability to plan, monitor, measure and manage raw material from primal to retail
• Good understanding of supply chains/ inventory management systems and their processes (e.g. ISO), order management