Job Description

The purpose of a Cellular Demand Planner is to coordinate the alignment of the cellular product inventory with customer demand while minimising excess stock and stockouts. The Cellular Demand Planner plays a critical support role in enhancing overall supply chain efficiency and driving profitability through effective demand planning and inventory management. This role collaborates closely with various teams/ stakeholders to accurately forecast customer needs and align inventory levels accordingly. This role supports the organisation by gathering critical data and insights to inform planning decisions and facilitate effective cross-department collaboration.Job Advert Details
Job Category Finance
Job Objectives

• Adhere to established demand planning methodologies and processes to maintain consistency and accuracy in forecasting.
• Align to business goals and sales strategies while formulating demand forecasts and fulfilling store stock requirements through bottom-up allocations.
• Apply analytical skills to evaluate historical sales data and market trends, optimizing inventory management strategies accordingly.
• Attend to the needs of cross-functional teams by collaborating with sales, marketing, and supply chain to gather insights into demand planning and effectively fielding calls from stores regarding stock issues.
• Comply with industry standards and internal policies, ensuring adherence to best practices in inventory management and demand forecasting.
• Conduct analysis of market conditions, sales performance, and inventory levels to inform demand forecasting and planning efforts, including weekly order follow-ups and order clean-ups as required.
• Escalate potential risks or issues related to demand forecasting or inventory levels to management for timely intervention.
• Execute inventory management strategies that align with forecasted demand, ensuring optimal product availability and minimising costs.
• Gather data from various sources, including sales reports, market research, and competitor analysis, to support accurate demand forecasting and to distribute relevant reports to Operations and Suppliers (weekly sales, monthly market share, top performers, over stocks, and risks).
• Investigate discrepancies between forecasts and actual sales, determining root causes and adjusting forecasts accordingly.
• Provide regular reports on demand forecasts, inventory performance, and key metrics to stakeholders, ensuring clear communication.
• Report on the effectiveness of demand planning processes and propose enhancements based on analytical findings.
• Provide stock movement between stores and report to Divisional Managers monthly and follow up on progress thereof, ensuring timely and accurate data is available for decision-making.
• Service internal stakeholders by ensuring they have the necessary information and resources to support demand fulfillment.
• Support the introduction of new cellular products by collaborating with marketing and product development teams to predict initial demand accurately and assist with article creation and price changes.
• Utilise demand planning software and analytical tools to enhance forecasting accuracy and efficiency.
• Research industry trends, consumer behavior, and technological advancements in the cellular market to continuously refine demand forecasting practices.

Qualifications

• Matric (Grade 12) - (essential).
• Degree or diploma in Business Administration, or a related field xe2x80x93 (preferred).

Experience

• +2 years of experience in cellular demand planning and/or inventory management, or a similar role, preferably within the cellular or telecommunications industry - (essential).
• Proficiency in planning and forecasting software/tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Excel) - (essential).
• Experience in a retail environment - (essential).

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and generate actionable insights - (essential).
• Good understanding of trading environment and business acumen - (essential).
• Understanding of the retail value chain and profitability drivers - (essential).