Senior Planner - @Home at TFG (The Foschini Group)

Job Description

• The Planner III is responsible for mentoring the Merchandise Planning Team, projecting future sales into key categories, and optimizing planning processes. This includes managing range assortments and replenishment, implementing distribution strategies, and providing guidance and support to team members.

Responsibilities

• Mentor the Merchandise Planning Team, providing guidance, coaching and support to team members.
• Influence and implement the merchandise strategy, developing and managing category financial plans across sales, stock, margin, GP, PIS, closing stock and markdown.
• Develop category strategic, tactical and operational plans to achieve sales, profit, inventory and stock turn targets.
• Drive planning performance across the Kitchen category through data-led decision making and commercial analysis.
• Project future sales and manage forecasting activities to optimise inventory investment, stock levels and sales performance.
• Manage OTB allowance across in-season and forward budgets.
• Analyse sales, stock and SKU performance to identify trends, opportunities and risks, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Identify potential business risks, including overselling, underselling, overstock and margin pressures, and implement corrective actions to mitigate impacts.
• Drive stock optimisation, inventory productivity and SKU performance across the category.
• Manage range assortments, replenishment and distribution strategies to ensure the right stock is available in the right store at the right time.
• Support the planning and management of imported product ranges, ensuring effective stock flow and availability.
• Partner with Buying, Sourcing, Supply Chain and suppliers to optimise assortment, stock flow, availability and profitability.
• Drive local sourcing, supplier stockholding and packaging initiatives to improve supply chain and distribution centre efficiencies.
• Compile, analyse and present reports and performance insights that enable informed decision-making and improved profitability.
• Contribute to category growth through proactive trading insights, stakeholder engagement and continuous process improvement.
• Mentor the Merchandise Planning Team, providing guidance and support to team members.
• Manage stock fulfilment through the Distribution Centre to ensure optimal product availability and flow.
• Conduct regular store visits and maintain communication with stores and field teams to identify opportunities and support trading execution.

Qualifications

• Minimum completed National Diploma or Degree in Business Management, BCom or a related field, with majors in Finance, Statistics, Economics or Mathematics.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years' proven Merchandise Planning experience within a retail environment
• Must possess strong numerical, analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Must demonstrate strong commercial acumen, a trader mentality and proven inventory management capability
• Experience planning within an Apparel, Fashion or General Merchandise retail environment would be advantageous

Skills:

• Analytical Processes 
• Commercial Acumen 
• Contract Management 
• Customer Service Delivery 
• Planning & Organising 
• Policy & Procedures 
• Market Research and Analysis 
• Supplier Management 
• Requirements Analysis 
• Global Sourcing 
• Strategic eCommerce

Behaviour:

• Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Builds Networks - establishes and nurtures internal and external relationships in order to create robust, and mutually beneficial, partnerships
• Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
• Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
• Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets
• Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems
• Organisational Savvy - understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people
• Situational Adaptability - effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
• Strategic Mindset - thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation