Job Description

The Senior Planner oversees planning systems, acting as a Super User to ensure smooth operation, user support, and successful implementation of upgrades and new features. They manage logistics coordination by resolving supply chain issues, ensuring timely shipping, and aligning warehouse inventory with store plans. Reporting responsibilities include delivering accurate financial packs and actionable insights based on validated data. Strategic planning involves developing pre-season store plans and aligning them with corporate guidelines and merchandising goals. Cross-functional collaboration is key, as the role requires strong partnerships with teams across finance, logistics, IT, and merchandising to ensure integrated and effective planning processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning Systems Administration & Maintenance

System Oversight: Serve as the Super User across all planning-related systems, ensuring optimal performance and alignment with business needs. User Management: Facilitate onboarding and training of new users, manage access rights, and ensure compliance with data governance policies. Troubleshooting & Support: Act as the first point of contact for system-related issues, resolving user queries and escalating technical problems when necessary. Implementation & Upgrades: Lead or support the rollout of new system features, updates, and integrations, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Coordinate and execute UAT processes for new functionalities, ensuring they meet business requirements before deployment.

Logistics & Supply Chain Coordination

Ticketing & Issue Resolution: Monitor and manage logistics tickets, ensuring timely resolution of supply chain disruptions or queries. Shipping Oversight: Collaborate with logistics teams to ensure accurate and timely shipping of merchandise, aligned with planning forecasts. Warehouse Coordination: Liaise with warehousing teams to ensure inventory levels support store plans and promotional activities, minimizing stockouts or overstock.

Reporting & Analytics

Financial Reporting: Compile and deliver comprehensive monthly and weekly financial packs, including sales performance, inventory metrics, and forecast accuracy. Data Integrity: Ensure all reports are based on clean, validated data and reflect current business realities. Insights & Recommendations: Provide actionable insights from reports to support strategic decision-making across planning and merchandising functions.

Planning & Strategy Alignment

Pre-Season Store Planning: Develop detailed store plans ahead of each season, incorporating historical data, trend analysis, and strategic objectives. Corporate Guidelines: Prepare and distribute planning guidelines that align with the overall merchandise strategy and corporate goals. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in merchandising, finance, logistics, and IT to ensure planning systems and processes are fully integrated and mutually beneficial.

Qualifications and Experience:

A relevant tertiary qualification 7+ years' proven merchandise distribution and planning experience Product knowledge will be advantageous Knowledge of Legality System advantageous

Skills:

Analytical Processes Commercial Acumen Contract Management Customer Service Delivery Planning & Organising Policy & Procedures Market Research and Analysis Supplier Management Requirements Analysis Global Sourcing Strategic eCommerce

Behaviours:

Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in adaptability, decision making, interpersonal relations, problem solving, teamwork & written communication Comfortable and effective influencer. You need to be flexible as the environment is very dynamic and priorities can change. Sets ambitious goals and takes focused action to achieve desired outcomes to deliver measurable results Adapts effectively to situations that are complex, uncertain, or lack guidelines and clear information Interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems Assesses and improves the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of various work processes Develops plans and prioritises initiatives that align to the organisational goals and objectives Effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation

Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.