Product Planner

**Job Advert**:
The search is on, and our Footwear team is looking for a confident, positive and resilient Planner who has sound commercial thinking, strong analytical and proven numerical abilities for the delivery, implementation and management of departmental business plans in accordance with Company strategies and to continue growing this area of our Business.

**Qualifications**:
**Qualifications required**:

- A Grade 12 certificate is an essential requirement.
- A qualification would be a definite advantage. Preferred qualifications are:

- B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Stats and Business Science OR
- National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and Cost and Management Accounting OR
- National Diploma in Financial Information Systems

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience**:
**Knowledge of**:

- the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
- seasonal & non-seasonal replenishments
- the SA retail clothing market, Customers and competitors

**Skills required**:

- Sound commercial thinking & numerical skills
- Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills
- Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Planning, organising & time management skills
- Conflict resolution skills

**The ability to be**:

- resilient, agile and maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure
- collaborate and create a shared vision and to positively influence others make decision
- remain flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work performance in a variety of circumstances
- self-motivated, take responsibility and have a sense of pride in one’s work
- methodical, detail orientated and accurte
- effective communiction at all levels
- a strong sense of integrity
- deadline - oriented
- assertive

**Experience**:
**Essential**:

- A minimum of 2-3 years previous experience in product planning within a relevant retail environment is an important requirement.

**Preferred**:

- Replenishment and assortment planning experience
- Prior store planning experience
- Previous store management experience (1 - 2 years)
- Previous exposure to general logistics and supply chain processes
- Experience working in planning systems such as: Enterprise Planning, Location Planning, Assortment Planning, Allocation Planning and/or Just Enough
- A working knowledge of the latest Microsoft packages (Word & Excel) is essential. Experience in working at an advanced level in Excel would be a definite advantage.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Delivering and implementing departmental business plans that support the SBU’s merchandise strategy.
- Managing departmental forecasts to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
- Preparing and delivering merchandise assortment plans that support the signed-off departmental business strategy.
- Ensuring sufficient inflows to maintaining agreed replenishment service levels to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
- Providing accurate and timeous merchandise information to minimise risk and optimise business opportunities.
- Executing and managing project plans to achieve the agreed objectives (if applicable).