The Senior Planning Manager is responsible for developing strategic, tactical, and operational plans to achieve set targets. They influence and implement the merchandise strategy and manage range assortments and replenishment. Additionally, they manage financial metrics, sales trends, and stakeholder relationships, and provide leadership to the planning team
Key Responsibilities:
- To interpret the overall merchandise strategy and develop a high-level Merchandise financial plan by department for sales, stock margins, GP, PIS Closing stock and markdowns.
- To lead and manage end to end location strategy to ensure desired outcomes are achieved, i.e. to the right stock at the right store at the right time
- Balances a complex set of variables on an ongoing basis to ensure the financial outcome is achieved.
- To manage the departmental inventory in line with the financial targets
- To manage the stock fulfilment through the logistics pipeline and DC.
- Drive local sourcing, supplier stockholding and packaging to improve DC throughput.
- To compile and produce reports to ensure visibility of correct information in order to take corrective action to maintain and/or improve profitability.
- Identify potential business risks (overselling, underselling, overstock, buying margin) and proposing corrective action and ensuring execution thereof.
- To build high performance teams through effective people management and develop to ensure capability to meet current and future business objectives.
- To work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of the business plan and an effective and efficient supply chain.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Minimum 8 years’ experience in Merchandise Planning
- A post graduate business qualification is desirable
- In-depth knowledge of the Planning process in particular within the Fashion retailing sector
- Experience within an omni retail environment
- A history of achievement and delivering results within a fast-paced retail environment
- Experience in scenario and promotional planning will be advantageous
- Strong understanding of customer demographics
Skills:
- Financial planning
- Category management
- People management
- Coaching and mentoring
- Business Acumen
- Systems thinking
- Problem solving
- Lean and agile retailing principles
Behaviours:
- 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
- Ensures 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
Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.
Report job
