Junior Cluster Planner

Description
PayInc is a purpose-driven payments provider building on over 50 years of trusted history in South Africa's payments ecosystem. Our mission is to connect people, businesses, and economies through secure, efficient and inclusive digital payments infrastructure and be a catalyst for financial inclusion and economic growth. From EFTs and cards to PayShap, PayInc provides the backbone that enables money to move safely across the economy. At our core, we exist to make great connections, empowering participation, enabling growth, and ensuring no one is left behind.

PURPOSE

The Junior Cluster Planner plays a vital role in supporting the business planning function, specifically within the Note and Coin operations. The incumbent will be responsible for assisting with forecasting, scheduling, and ensuring optimal inventory supply to meet demand requirements. Additionally, the Junior Planner will collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather data, analyse trends, and contribute to decision-making processes. This role requires adaptability to assist in other areas of the business as needed, ensuring a seamless flow of operations. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem-solving are essential for success in this position.

You will engage with the following stakeholders:

• Internal Teams: Cluster Planners, Demand Planning Team, Continuous Improvement Team.
• External Partners: Service Providers, Cash Centres, and CIT (Cash-in-Transit) partners.
• Industry Stakeholders: SARB, SBV, and other financial institutions involved in the cash supply chain.
• Management: Regular engagement with the Planning Manager and other senior stakeholders to provide updates, insights, and recommendations.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Assisting in Planning

The Junior Planner will play a key role in supporting the planning function by ensuring smooth and efficient operational workflows. Their responsibilities include assisting in the preparation of forecasts and aligning supply to demand requirements. In addition to providing support, the Junior Planner will take ownership of planning and inventory management in smaller areas, clusters, or centres, contributing to the overall planning objectives while building their expertise. They will collaborate with cluster planners and stakeholders to gather and analyse relevant data and propose actionable solutions. By maintaining accurate records and contributing to the refinement of planning processes, the Junior Planner will help optimise resource utilisation and ensure timely delivery of services.

• Assisting with demand forecasting and creating detailed plans to meet operational requirements.
• Perform planning for cash centres to ensure availability of cash an optimisation of costs.
• Gathering and verifying data from service providers to ensure accurate inputs for planning activities.
• Monitoring execution against plans and reporting deviations or potential supply or cost risks.
• Supporting resource allocation to optimise efficiency and maintain service levels.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of planning processes through analysis, identification of opportunities, and implementation.
• Assist the planning team to achieve its targets while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing business needs
• Assisting in other Functional areas of the Business
• Industry Float Administration

This function serves to calculate the participation of all stakeholders and includes the fair invoicing of each participant based on their utilisation.

• Continuous Improvement

The Junior Planner will actively contribute to the Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives within the organisation, focusing on enhancing efficiency and reducing costs across various operational areas. They will assist in identifying opportunities for system improvements, simplifying processes, and optimising resources to drive overall productivity. By analysing data and collaborating with cross-functional teams, the Junior Planner will support efforts to implement innovative solutions and ensure sustainable benefits. Their role will involve providing actionable insights, monitoring the impact of changes, and refining processes to align with business objectives.

• Supporting the implementation of system upgrades and enhancements to improve functionality and efficiency.
• Identifying and assisting in streamlining business processes to simplify operations and reduce complexity.
• Assisting in the creation and improvement of reporting tools for better data visualisation and decision-making.
• Conducting vehicle utilisation analysis to ensure optimal fleet efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Collaborating on initiatives to reduce applicable costs by analysing trends and suggesting practical solutions.
• Through their contributions, the Junior Planner will help foster a culture of continuous improvement and drive measurable results for the business.

Qualifications / Knowledge

• 3-year BSc or 4-year BEng Degree (preferably Industrial Engineering but not limited to)
• Exposure to forecasting software will be advantageous
• MS Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) – (intermediate excel is advantageous)

Experience

• Some exposure/ training to forecasting, planning, or scheduling functions within an operational or supply chain environment would be advantageous.
• Training in an industrial engineering or data-driven analytical environment is preferred but not essential.
• Familiarity with data analysis, reporting, and process improvement initiatives will be beneficial.
• Graduates or individuals with limited work experience but strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are encouraged to apply.