Senior Central Planner - The FIX

The Central Planner III is responsible for leading the management of pre-season and in-season store plans and identifying opportunities for stock turn improvements. They oversee the preparation of pre-season store plans, manage and strategize new and revamp store viabilities, and collaborate with the allocation team to execute allocation and assortment strategies. They also mentor and guide junior planners

• Lead the management of pre-season and in-season store plans.
• Identify and implement opportunities for stock turn improvements.
• Oversee the preparation and execution of pre-season store plans.
• Manage and strategize new store openings, revamps, and store viability assessments.
• Collaborate with the Allocation team to develop and execute allocation and assortment strategies.
• Monitor, analyse, and optimise store stock levels and performance to drive commercial outcomes.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance dashboards and reporting tools using Power BI, Qlik Sense, or similar Business Intelligence platforms.
• Compile, analyse, and present Management Packs, trading reports, and business performance insights to key stakeholders.
• Transform complex datasets into actionable business insights and strategic recommendations.
• Provide data-driven analysis to support business planning, forecasting, inventory management, and decision-making.
• Partner closely with Merchandise Planning, Buying, Allocation, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment with overall merchandise strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across multiple business functions, influencing decision-making at all levels.
• Present findings, recommendations, and performance updates to both operational and leadership teams.
• Identify business risks and opportunities through robust analytical and reporting practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging data, analytics, and commercial insights.
• Provide strategic feedback and recommendations to improve store performance, inventory productivity, and profitability.
• Mentor, coach, and develop junior planners, fostering a high-performance planning culture.

• Minimum relevant tertiary qualification
• Tertiary qualification in Data Analytics, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field would be advantageous 
• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience within a planning, analytics, merchandise planning, or retail environment 
• Proven experience developing and managing Location Plans Proven experience creating and implementing allocation Strategies would be advantageous 
• Experience creating dashboards using Power BI, Qlik Sense, or similar business Intelligence tools
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical and reporting capabilities 

Skills: 

• Analytical Skills
• Commercial Acumen
• Advanced Excel & BI Reporting
• Inventory & Stock Management
• Forecasting & Planning
• Stakeholder Management
• Data Interpretation & Insights
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Thinking
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Presentation & Communication Skills
• Leadership & Mentoring

Behaviours:

• Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
• Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Builds Networks - establishes and nurtures internal and external relationships in order to create robust, and mutually beneficial, partnerships
• Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
• Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
• Ensures Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets
• Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems
• Organisational Savvy - understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people
• Situational Adaptability - effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
• Strategic Mindset - thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation

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