Assortment Optimisation Analyst

We are looking to recruit an Assortment Optimisation Analyst to work within our Merchandise department. The role will be based at our Head Office in Cape Town and will be reporting to the Space Planning Manager.

Job Purpose :

To determine the optimal product mix through translating assortment selection criteria from shopper insights, sales performance data and shelf productivity / inventory turns to influence sales growth.

Job Objectives :

• To define and take responsibility for the optimal product assortment and develop and maintain assortment plans for the Category while investigating category trends of top and bottom performing products on a regular basis and providing recommendations to the Category team.
• Drive new product line and assortment strategies with the buyers to ensure innovation and alignment with our customer profiles.
• Consult with merchandise leadership on the right product mix and assortment related to what their customer cares about most and ensure that this is supported by current data.
• Executing category Business Reviews (BR) and Product Line Reviews (PLR) for a designated department and should be seen by merchants as a thought leader on category and assortment strategy.
• Perform analysis of SKU and historical product performance to assist the Category teams with the development of the assortment definition and wedge.
• Develop item and SKU level plans that project the inventory required to place purchase orders and achieve sales, margin, and turn goals.
• Use Assortment optimisation and other available data and tools to analyse performance and build plans.
• Align item plans to category strategies, merchandise plans and open-to-buy, assessing tradeoffs from inclusion of new items, providing merchandise financial planning recommendations.
• Analyze actual business performance relative to plans and trends, reporting variances to plan.
• Provide item level guidance to the planning teams as well as item level guidance to product development and store clustering, ensuring alignment to assortment goals.
• Prepare reports required for analysis including recap of seasonal performance, marketplace and macroeconomic trends impacting the category, vendor portfolio strengths and weaknesses including private brand, store clustering and propose action plans to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Advocate for implementing assortment planning best practices across the portfolio of categories.
• Provide subject matter expertise, project management and analytical support to assortment decisions made by the merchandising organization during category reviews.
• Work in collaboration with Merchants to determine category review goals and objectives, conduct standard and ad hoc analysis to identify key drivers of performance, recommend assortment decisions that will improve category performance and develop financial plans that reflect category changes.
• Identifying key product attributes and regional performance.
• Develop and report out to senior management analysis including historical category performance, strategic rationale underpinning assortment decisions and expected financial impact.

Job Experience :

At least 3 years of experience in retail or e-commerce, focusing on merchandising assortment and planning / analysis.

Job Related Knowledge and Skills :

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