Demand Planner( Everyday Essentials)

Clicks Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the FMCG sector is seeking a Demand Planner to enhance profitability through effective demand forecasting. The role involves managing forecasts, analyzing trends, and optimizing inventory. Ideal candidates will have solid experience in supply chain processes and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years’ experience with distributions requirement planning and other supply chain processes.
• Strong planning and buying experience with solid understanding of financial and statistical analysis.

Responsibilities

• Manage statistical, promotional, and total forecasts for product ranges.
• Analyze post promotional data to improve future forecasts.
• Lead consensus forecast meetings with stakeholders.

Skills

FMCG

Data analysis models

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics

Tools

MS Office Excel

MS Office Word

MS Office Outlook

MS Office Power Point

Job description

Listing reference: click_020026

Listing status: Online

Apply by: 16 May 2025

Position Summary

Industry: FMCG & Supply Management

Job category: Supply and Demand

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

About Our Company

Clicks Group

Introduction

Clicks is on the hunt for a Demand Planner within the PC/Ede/H&E portfolio. The main purpose of this role is to ensure effective demand and statistical forecasting for assigned categories in order to drive profitability through increased sales, improved margins, and working capital productivity

Job Description

• 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
  
  

Minimum Requirements

Job Related Knowledge

Essential

• 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
  
  

Desireable

• 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 9 – 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
  
  

Essential

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
  
  

Desirable

• 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
  
  

Education

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

Job Related Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Persuading and Influencing
• Presenting and Communicating Information
• Analysing
• Planning and Organising
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking