Planner needed at Massmart

• To manage inventories and contribute to the maximization of financial performance for the chain

Functions / Responsibilities:

Budget Planning

• Set and revise inventory and financial parameters, including budgets for sales, margin and OTB 
• Provide input to Store budget process and sign off where necessary
• Provide input into budgeting process for new stores and sign off where necessary
• Forecast Planning
• Forecast Sales, conduct action changes and reforecasting when needed.
• Review actual DSC vs. planned DSC
• Ensure corrective action is taken to meet sales plan, adhering to the correct stock cover.
• Analyse inventory, sales, projections service levels, ranging, financial performance, seasonal performance
• Range review strategy
• Analyse inventory, sales, projections, service levels, ranging, as a seasonal performance trend, and plan the new strategy for the coming season; at the same time identifying opportunities, and threats. 
• Identification of target customers/ consumer segments
• Collate and analyse store profiles, competitors, pricing, customer research information, trends, range mix profiles (K, M and C), value mix profiles (E, M and T), ideal supplier profiles, mandatory ranges, store “optional” buying menus
• Store Profiling
• Conduct analysis on range profiling, set inventory and financial parameters, collate and analyse store profiles, plan new stores, set appropriate budgets, set appropriate OTB and provide relevant information to all key stakeholders and role players
• Supplier Performance
• Provide factual information on top suppliers
• Identify the top 25% of suppliers per article group and develop action plans to build relationships with suppliers
• Ensure that de-listings will not result in imbalances and that action is taken to meet sales and profitability targets in terms of the rest of the range
• Negotiate lead times and rep calls with suppliers aiming for short lead times and frequent rep calls 
• Promotion Planning
• Ensure that forecasting is carried out accurately for promotions
• Ensure that the right stock is ordered in time for promotions.
• Monitor and analyse promotional performance and give input for future promotions.
• Replenishment and inventory Strategy
• Set and revise Replenishment parameters.
• Review replenishment performance against plan.
• Determine and monitor adherence to OTB for buyers’ overseas visits, new stores and ongoing
• Monitor performance in meeting inventory strategy, maintaining service levels
• Stock Management
• Collate and analyse information
• Monitor performance, set and revise parameters, 
• Identify problems and opportunities and make recommendations to maximize sales and profits 
• Manage mark-downs versus aged stock profiles and discontinued items
• Monitor store orders and take action to avoid duplication and overstocks
• Provide quality analysis and recommendations to maximize sales and profitability
• Communicate to stores baselines, targets, promotion results, markdowns and discontinued items

Requirements:

Minimum Academic, Professional Qualifications & Experience required for this position 

• Matric
• Tertiary Qualification in Retail, Purchasing or Logistics
• Degree in Financial scope 
• 2 – 5yrs Planning experience

Core Competencies: 

• Strengthen Reputation and Local Involvement
• Ensure customer / Member Centered Performance
• Ensure Execution and Achieve Results
• Ensure Planning and Improvement
• Build and Influence Team
• Adapt and Learn 

General Competencies: 

• Strengthen Reputation and Local Involvement
• Manage and Leverage Talent 
• Train and Develop Talent
• Network Internally and Externally