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

Qualifications

• 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

Key Duties

• 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.