Category Planner

Dotactiv (Pty) Ltd.; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A retail consulting firm in South Africa is looking for a Category Planner to enhance in-store experiences through strategic assortment and data-driven planning. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Consumer Science or Commerce and preferably some experience in retail. Responsibilities include creating cluster plans, conducting analytical reviews, and supporting clients. The role offers a monthly cost to company of R15k to R20k, with additional training and supportive structures for career growth.

Benefits

Laptop allowance

Training and career growth

Transparent job grading system

Qualifications

• Must have a Consumer Science or Commerce degree from a recognized university.
• Good understanding of English, able to speak, read, and write at a business level.
• 1-2 years of experience in a retail environment is preferred (not required).
• Must have a valid driver’s license and vehicle for client meetings.
• Laptop with Windows is necessary, as DotActiv software is not Mac compatible.

Responsibilities

• Create strategic assortment plans.
• Develop optimized cluster plans per product category.
• Conduct floor and space plan analytical reviews.
• Provide insights to clients based on cluster analysis.
• Support retail customers as necessary.

Skills

Strategic planning

Problem-solving

Customer satisfaction

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Consumer Science or Commerce degree

Tools

MS Office

DotActiv software

Job description

Randburg, South Africa | Posted on 03 / 20 / Category planners play a pivotal role in the success of any business that has its roots in the retail industry.

In the case of DotActiv, they help us to transform the in-store experiences of our customers, drive sales and profit, analyse and profile clusters as well as use this information to recommend a customer‑centric assortment plan to our customers. With a starting Cost to Company of between R and R per month, we’re searching for people who value strategic planning, problem‑solving, customer satisfaction, and working in an innovative environment.

Who Is DotActiv?

In order to explain who DotActiv is, it’s first important to explore the topic of category management. That’s because category management is a core part of our business and has been for the past 25 years. The idea behind category management is straightforward: it is the process used to manage product categories to deliver value to shoppers in a bid to increase both sales and profit for a retailer.

In short, it is the science behind how retailers decide on which products to stock as well as how to organise these products in‑store so as to please their customers. Our history dates back to when we launched as a Category Management consultancy.

• In, we became the first company to establish a formalised and collaborative management process between a retailer and supplier when we signed Pick n Pay as a client.
• That wasn’t our only first.
• In, when we relaunched under the name of DotActiv, we became the first company to create a data‑driven category management system.
• Since then we have expanded and evolved that system, meaning today we have more than retail professionals using our planogram software in over countries.

What You Can Expect From This Job

As a Category Planner working at DotActiv, your responsibilities will include:

• Creating strategic assortment plans
• Planning and building data‑driven shelf plans
• Conducting floor and space plan analytical reviews
• Developing optimised cluster plans per product category using the cluster optimizer and maintenance tools in the DotActiv software
• Analysing the cluster plan and profiling each cluster to deliver strategic insights to clients
• Maximising customer and category performance by considering category strategies and plans, product financial performance, shopper psychology and aesthetic appeal
• Supporting, advising and guiding retail customers where required

You’ll have access to DotActiv’s all‑in‑one category management software to complete all of the above.

Requirements / Skills

• A Consumer Science or Commerce degree or similar degree at a recognised and accredited university
• A good understanding of English (you must be able to speak, read and write at a business proficiency level)
• While not required, 1 to 2 years of experience in a retail environment is advantageous
• A valid driver’s licence and vehicle are a requirement for this role as you may be required to travel on‑site to meet with clients
• A working laptop – it is important that your laptop has Windows as our software is not supported with Mac PCs

We do offer a laptop allowance, included in the CTC.

Knowledge and Computer Skills

• General retail business experience within a retail environment
• Understand the principles of category management and more specifically clustering and assortment planning (beneficial)
• Understand the process of space planning and how this connects to clustering and assortment planning (beneficial)
• Understand merchandising principles and techniques (beneficial)
• Have the necessary product knowledge and understand product ranges
• Computer literate with special attention to: Intermediate MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Google G‑Suite / Google Docs for business; understand the computer packages and systems currently used by DotActiv and customers (training will be provided)

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use data analysis techniques in business situations
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• High capacity to represent the DotActiv brand as a specialist
• High degree of internal client engagement
• Ability to multitask and work cross‑functionally
• Attention in a busy environment
• Calm demeanor with a strong sense of urgency and detail‑oriented focus
• Team player
• Versatile for participation in various activities
• Adaptable to change as different product categories present different challenges and opportunities

Commitment To Balance Out DotActiv’s Investment: To balance out the investment of your three‑month training, we have attached a cost of training agreement. This means that you undertake not to resign for a period of three years from the date of your successful deployment. If this agreement is not upheld, you will be liable to repay the total actual value sponsored immediately on termination of service.

Benefits

• Cost to Company of between R15k and R20k, depending on qualifications and experience
• Guidance, support and training from your line manager to ensure success as a category planner and career growth at DotActiv
• Transparent job grading system
• Developmental path specific to your circumstances, allowing you to track your progress