Demand Planner - (Health & Baby)

Clicks Group Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Clicks Group Limited is seeking a Demand Planner to drive accurate forecasts and robust statistical forecasting for assigned categories, supporting profitability through increased sales, margins and stock optimization.

Responsibilities include creating and managing forecast models, analyzing promotions, engaging stakeholders to identify trends, and leading consensus forecast meetings to improve inventory and range decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, math, decision science, business or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong analytical skills and ability to build forecasting models.
• Experience in FMCG, supply chain or logistics preferred.
• Ability to understand customer needs, trends and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage statistical, promotional, event and total forecasts for new and existing product ranges.
• Identify forecast exceptions, validate OTB forecasts and explain variances.
• Analyze post-promotional data to improve future forecasts and inventory disposition.
• Lead consensus forecast meetings with key stakeholders to drive decisions.
• Ensure data cleansing and range reviews support inventory optimization and range planning.

Skills

Forecasting

Causal analysis

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Presentation

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics/Math/Decision Science/Business

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Clicks is on the hunt for a Demand Planner to ensure effective demand and statistical forecasting for assigned categories in order to drive profitability through increased sales, improved margins, and working capital productivity

Responsibilities

• To ensure the accurate and effective creation and management of statistical, promotional, event and total forecasts using provided systems and tools for all new and existing product ranges
• To recognize and reconcile forecast exceptions to track and manage sales against forecast and validate forecast for OTB management
• To determine causal factors impacting forecasts and respond appropriately, (weather, moving events, promotions etc.)
• To ensure effective stakeholder management and engagement in order to determine trends, identify new products, evaluate risks and determine inventory and replenishment requirements
• To generate and deliver accurate and timely management reports and maintain key metrics against goals in order to analyze forecast performance and ensure forecast accuracy and inventory optimization
• To effectively analyze post promotional and event data to determine opportunities, improve future forecasts, and act as necessary for inventory disposition
• To effectively lead and prepare for the consensus forecast meetings with key stakeholders in order to enhance key insights and decisions taken
• To ensure that the history data cleansing process is followed in order to improve sales history
• To ensure the effective execution of the range review process and decision making in order to assist the Category Team to determine optimal range
• To look for opportunities to maximize sales potential and support the Category team to develop Category Operating Plans and other initiatives to achieve sales, margin and stock targets

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Math, Decision Science, Business, related area or equivalent experience

Job Related Knowledge

• FMCG, Supply Chain and Logistics
• Data analysis models
• Ability to understand and fine tune algorithms for optimal forecast performance
• Execution of the new stores / lines / products process using required commercial acumen
• Understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share

Desirable

• Financial planning models and methodologies
• Deep understanding of the consistent management and planning of the supplier base performance metrics, promotional planning cycle, product lifecycle, supply chain optimization for their products, business analysis and reporting

Job Related Skills

• Causal factor determination and event driven adjustments
• Deep analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups
• Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business decisions
• Forecasting consumer trends and buying habits weekely and 24 months in the future
• Complex decision making based on statistics, trends and opinions
• Presentation skills with focus being on oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point, spreadsheets, databases
• Complex Problem solving
• Retail mathematical calculations (e.g. variance to last year, percent of total, turn, Open-to-Buy and sales per square foot)
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills

Job Experience

• Strong planning and buying experience with solid understanding of financial and statistical analysis of both
• 2-4 years’ experience with distributions requirement planning and other supply chain processes such as demand planning, production planning, scheduling and transportation
• 1-2 years planning and executing projects involving multiple groups across an organization desirable
• Experience with retail buying or logistics preferred
• Supply chain software knowledge advantageous

Job Related Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Persuading and Influencing
• Presenting and Communicating Information