Supply Chain Executive

Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain Location: Cape Town Contract: Permanent Remuneration: Market Related EE position: Yes About our company Clicks Group Introduction We are seeking to employ a Supply Chain Executive to be responsible for the Supply Chain & Logistics division of the business. This role will be based at Clicks Head Office and report into the Head of Supply Chain & Logistics. Job Purpose To drive and optimise Clicks' end-to-end supply chain operations, including sourcing, demand and replenishment planning, import management, supplier collaboration, efficiency and cost negotiations, financial and pharmacy planning. The role is pivotal in delivering best-in-class in-store availability while achieving working capital and service level objectives. To continually enhance integrated business planning (S&OP) and cross-functional collaboration, supported by fit-for-purpose systems, to ensure the right products are available at the right time — enabling Clicks to consistently deliver on its promise as South Africa’s leading health and beauty retailer.To drive and optimise Clicks' end-to-end supply chain operations, including sourcing, demand and replenishment planning, import management, supplier collaboration, efficiency and cost negotiations, financial and pharmacy planning. The role is pivotal in delivering best-in-class in-store availability while achieving working capital and service level objectives. To continually enhance integrated business planning (S&OP) and cross-functional collaboration, supported by fit-for-purpose systems, to ensure the right products are available at the right time — enabling Clicks to consistently deliver on its promise as South Africa’s leading health and beauty retailer. Job Objectives Develop and lead the annual strategic plan and budget for sales, margin, and inventory, ensuring full alignment with the business unit’s financial and growth objectives. Champion the evolution and execution of Integrated Business Planning (S&OP) to drive alignment across demand, supply, and financial planning, enhancing cross-functional decision-making and accountability. Drive a world-class demand forecasting capability, leveraging accurate demand signals and analytics to align forecasts with financial targets at product, category, and store levels. Design and optimise inventory strategies across the product portfolio and logistics network to ensure product availability, service level excellence, and optimal working capital utilisation. Ensure forward-looking capacity planning across Distribution Centres, including stockholding, throughput, and inbound/outbound flow to support business growth and avoid operational bottlenecks. Manage end-to-end new product introductions, ensuring seamless forecasting, sourcing, and post-launch execution to maximise speed-to-shelf and product availability. Collaborate with the Private Label team to define sourcing strategies that deliver margin improvement, secure reliable supply and support the business's brand ambitions. Lead supplier collaboration, commercial efficiency negotiations, and gain-share agreements to unlock value, reduce cost-to-serve, and drive incremental group profit from the supply chain. Create and maintain robust, insight-led reporting and performance metrics, enabling real-time visibility and data-driven decision-making across all supply chain touchpoints. Continuously evaluate and implement leading-edge supply chain technologies and tools, ensuring digital readiness, scalability, and alignment with future strategic objectives. Lead the deployment and integration of next-generation supply chain solutions, ensuring seamless cross-functional adoption, productivity gains, and end-to-end efficiency. Establish and nurture strong cross-functional partnerships with key stakeholders across buying, product development, operations and logistics to ensure integrated high-impact execution. Proactively identify risks, operational challenges, and emerging issues, develop mitigation plans, and maintain transparent, solution-oriented communication across the organisation. Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing team of demand planning and replenishment professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, ownership, agility, and service. Embed a culture of continuous improvement across all supply chain disciplines, driving innovation, agility, and best-in-class product availability while optimising cost and capital. Job related knowledge Sourcing & Imports Management Expertise in product sourcing, supplier coordination, and inbound logistics. Warehouse & Distribution Strong capability in understanding warehouse operations and outbound logistics efficiently. FMCG Supply Chain Broad knowledge of end-to-end supply chain processes within FMCG environments. Data Analysis Skilled in using data models to drive insights and performance improvements. Forecasting & Planning Proficient in demand forecasting tools, trends, and technologies. Clear understanding of customer needs, market trends, and the competitive landscape. Experienced in supplier performance, promotional planning, product lifecycles, and supply chain optimisation. Sourcing & Imports Management Expertise in product sourcing, supplier coordination, and inbound logistics. Warehouse & Distribution Strong capability in understanding warehouse operations and outbound logistics efficiently. FMCG Supply Chain Broad knowledge of end-to-end supply chain processes within FMCG environments. Data Analysis Skilled in using data models to drive insights and performance improvements. Forecasting & Planning Proficient in demand forecasting tools, trends, and technologies. Customer & Market Insight Clear understanding of customer needs, market trends, and the competitive landscape. Supplier & Lifecycle Management Experienced in supplier performance, promotional planning, product lifecycles, and supply chain optimisation. Financial Planning Strong grasp of financial models to support cost management and working capital efficiency. Job related skills Financial planning and management in Retail Buying and planning processes in Retail FMCG demand planning and forecasting Category management, sales and operations planning way of working (matrix organisations) Vendor management (including negotiation and contract management) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business decisions Forecasting consumer trends and buying habits 9 – 36 months in the future Complex decision making based on statistics, trends and opinions Requires proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point Complex Problem solving Retail mathematical and financial calculations/analysis (e.g. GMROI, CAGR, variance to last year, percentage of total, stock turn) Familiarity with demand and fulfilment planning software (e.g., SAP IBP, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, Relex) Exposure to inventory optimisation models balancing service levels and working capital Awareness of Incoterms and their practical application in contract negotiations Awareness of emerging technologies shaping supply chain best practices (e.g., blockchain, IoT, AI-driven and ML optimisation) Understanding of end-to-end supply chain visibility tools and analytics dashboards A minimum of 10-15 years merchandise planning and financial/business analysis, modeling and forecasting experience A minimum of 10 years of experience in a retail environment 5 Years functional experience – FMCG Supply Chain or Retail Planning 5 Years commercial experience including accountability for large budgets Strong planning and buying experience with solid understanding of financial and statistical analysis of both Strategic leadership experience applying business and financial analysis skills and knowledge to solve business problems and influence decision making Education Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce/Science/Engineering/Supply ChainLogistics Deciding and Initiating Action Leading and Supervising Persuading and Influencing Presenting and Communicating Information Analysing Planning and Organising Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations Formulating Strategies and Concepts Coping with Pressures and Setbacks Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking Do you require help with the registration process? #J-18808-Ljbffr