Primary Distribution Planner

Overall Responsibility

As a Primary Distribution Planner, your core mandate is to ensure stock is positioned at the right location, at the right time, and in full — while balancing cost, service, and network capacity. You will develop weekly distribution plans and collaborate closely with key stakeholders to ensure seamless stock movement throughout the network.

Focus Area 1: Daily Planning

• Compile the daily primary distribution load plan to ensure stock availability across multiple depots.
• Communicate plans clearly and timeously to stakeholders including depots, 3PL providers, internal logistics teams, and sales districts.
• Drive smooth execution of the daily plan, proactively resolving issues, reporting risks, and escalating where necessary.

Focus Area 2: Weekly Planning

• Develop weekly load plans to provide visibility and resource alignment for 3PL partners.
• Collaborate with Group Account Partners to maintain fresh stock at key depots.
• Facilitate allocation meetings with sales teams to enable fair share distribution when required.
• Deploy NPDs in line with initial seeding plans and communicate all variances or changes to stakeholders.

Focus Area 3: Tactical Planning

• Maintain 12-month planning models to reflect the network's future needs, including:
• Transport requirements
• Inventory management and optimal site stock levels
• Grid and capacity analytics
• Report on monthly primary distribution costs, including drivers of variance and improvement actions.
• Support the development of Primary Distribution budgets.
• Contribute actively to Supply Review discussions, providing insight and transparency to senior stakeholders.

Focus Area 4: Optimisation & Continuous Improvement

• Apply optimisation methods including route planning, capacity allocation and inventory optimisation to enhance service delivery.
• Identify, recommend and drive continuous improvement initiatives across distribution and capacity utilisation.
• Partner with finance and logistics to identify cost drivers and implement improvement opportunities.

Focus Area 5: Performance Monitoring

• Track, monitor and report on key KPIs such as:
• Load plan delivery adherence
• Transport cost adherence
• Depot out-of-stock occurrences
• Develop, enhance and maintain dashboards and metrics to measure planning performance and improvement impact.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Industrial/Chemical/Mechanical) or BCom Supply Chain Management.
• Advantageous experience in logistics, distribution planning, or working with transport carriers.

Preferred Skills

• Strong analytical capability with experience in data modelling, statistical forecasting and scenario planning.
• Knowledge of transportation planning and optimisation methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage and interpret large data sets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI or similar analytical tools.
• Adaptability in a dynamic environment with strong prioritisation skills.
• Knowledge of lean principles and continuous improvement frameworks.

NB: Duties listed above indicate the general scope of the role and are not exhaustive. The incumbent may be required to perform additional responsibilities within the job level as business needs evolve.