Merchandise Planner

Merchandise Planner

Our client in the Retail Industry requires the services of a Merchandise Planner to join their product team to develop and implement merchandise financial plans to optimise sales growth and merchandise profitability.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key performance areas:

• Development of the businesses planning function and associated processes to support ongoing merchandise profit growth and team alignment across merchandise strategic plans.
• Prepare timely merchandise category budgets values that support the brand’s product and retail plans.
• Work alongside the product team to create a balanced assortment buying plan that supports category financial plans and ensures sufficient in-branch option availability across categories.
• Prepare analysis and lead timely merchandise performance reviews to identify and act upon opportunities and interventions for positive performance improvement.
• Maintain category monthly financial plans that support financial targets, trading trends and optimise performance. Ensure required resultant interventions from plan updates are communicated and actioned.
• Manage item life-cycle stages with the product and retail teams to ensure appropriate buying quantifications and discontinuation strategies are implemented.
• Monitor merchandise systems including sales and inventory data to ensure accuracy of reporting and interpretation thereof.
• Effective communication and interpersonal impact to ensure broader team clarity and alignment around the merchandise planning objectives, inputs and outcomes.
• Assist and support with internal projects and tasks as business demands and needs require.

Desired Experience & Qualification

The successful candidate must have:

• Matric with a relevant tertiary degree.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in a planner and/or relevant buying role.
• Strong knowledge and experience across buying, supply-chain and retail processes.
• Proven knowledge and experience across merchandise budgeting and dynamic forecasting, including replenishment and planning methodologies.
• Proven knowledge and experience across merchandise assortment and range plan development.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills with strong data handling capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 with an advanced level of Excel skills.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Package & Remuneration

To be discussed during the interview stage.

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