Category Planner

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

Job summary

A retail consulting firm is seeking a Category Planner in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a focus on strategic assortment planning and client support. The role involves creating data-driven shelf plans and enhancing customer experiences through detailed analyses. Candidates should hold a Consumer Science or Commerce degree, understand category management, and possess strong analytical and communication skills. The company offers a competitive salary and a supportive environment for professional development.

Benefits

Laptop allowance

Training and support

Transparent job grading system

Qualifications

• Degree from a recognized university.
• Good command of English at business proficiency level.
• Experience in a retail environment is advantageous.
• Valid driver's licence and vehicle required for client meetings.
• Laptop with Windows required.

Responsibilities

• Create strategic assortment plans.
• Plan and build data-driven shelf plans.
• Conduct analytical reviews of floor and space plans.
• Develop optimized cluster plans using DotActiv software.
• Deliver strategic insights based on cluster analysis.
• Support retail customers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Consumer Science or Commerce degree

Tools

MS Office

Google G‑Suite

Job description

Johannesburg, 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 is 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's the process used to manage product categories to deliver value to shoppers in a bid to increase both the 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.

The fact that we have since expanded and evolved that system means today, we have more than retail professionals using our planogram software in over countries.

Role Type : On Site, Full time. Location : Midrand

What You Can Expect From This Job

• 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 And Requirements

• 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

• You must have excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Must have strong analytical skills and be able to use data analysis techniques and how to apply these to business situations;
• You must have excellent interpersonal skills;
• You must have a high capacity to represent the DotActiv brand as a specialist;…

What You Can Expect From DotActiv

Too often, we've come across job offers that focus first on what they expect from their applicants without thinking about the person who intends to apply.

That isn't what you’ll find with DotActiv.

As our vision clearly states, we aim to exceed the expectations of our staff. Here's what you can expect from DotActiv when joining the team as a Category Planner :

• You'll receive a Cost to Company of between R15k and R20k, depending on your qualifications and experience;
• You'll receive guidance, support and training from your line manager to ensure that you succeed as a category planner and can grow in your career at DotActiv;
• We offer you a transparent job grading system;
• We offer you a developmental path specific to your circumstances, allowing you to track your progress.

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