Head of Planning

Green Marble Recruitment Consultants; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 60 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Planning to lead strategic inventory management and forecasting efforts. In this pivotal role, you will drive data-driven decision-making and optimize stock levels across a diverse portfolio. Your analytical acumen and leadership will guide a team in ensuring inventory excellence while collaborating with cross-functional partners. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic retail environment, aligning supply with market demand and enhancing operational efficiency. If you're ready to take on this challenge, we want to hear from you!

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in inventory planning and demand forecasting.
• Proven leadership experience in a multi-business planning role.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and BI Tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in managing inventory quality across all business units.
• Develop forecasting models aligned with sales trends and objectives.
• Prepare high-impact reports for the Executive Committee on inventory.

Skills

Inventory Planning

Demand Forecasting

Supply Chain Management

Analytical Skills

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain

Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics

Bachelor’s degree in Finance

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

NetSuite

SAP

Job description

Join a leading retail team as Head of Planning to shape the future of strategic retail operations!

One of our leading clients in the retail industry is seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Planning.

This is an exciting opportunity to take the reins of a high-impact role focused on driving inventory excellence, sharp forecasting, and data-driven decision-making across a diverse portfolio of brands.

If you're passionate about turning insights into action and aligning supply with market demand, this role was made for you.

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Analytics, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in inventory planning, demand forecasting, or supply chain management.
• Proven leadership experience in a multi-business or group-level planning role.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, BI Tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), and ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, or similar).

Personality Traits:

• Analytical Acumen: Advanced ability to analyze large sets of data and draw actionable insights.
• Attention to Detail: Relentless focus on the accuracy and quality of inventory data.
• Strategic Thinking: Able to connect daily operations with broader business objectives.
• Communication: Strong presentation and reporting skills for both technical and executive audiences.
• Leadership: Capable of managing and mentoring a team of planners across the group.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Strategic Inventory Management:
  • Lead a team responsible for deep-diving daily into inventory quality across all business units.
  • Maintain detailed oversight of stock profiles by business, region, and product category.
  • Ensure stock levels are optimized to meet customer demand while minimizing obsolescence and holding costs.
• Forecasting and Demand Planning:
  • Develop and manage forecasting models that align with sales trends, seasonal cycles, and strategic objectives.
  • Integrate market intelligence, sales data, and supplier lead times into predictive planning.
• Sell-Through and Market Analysis:
  • Track and report on sell-through performance across all sales channels.
  • Identify slow-moving, high-performing, and at-risk inventory items and initiate interventions.
  • Collaborate closely with sales and procurement to ensure that planning aligns with business realities.
• Executive and Supplier Reporting:
  • Prepare and present high-impact reports to the Executive Committee (Exco) on inventory quality, planning accuracy, and risk mitigation.
  • Lead the quarterly performance reporting process to key suppliers and manufacturers, providing insight into product performance and forward-looking plans.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Work closely with finance, procurement, warehousing, and sales to drive a unified planning strategy.
  • Act as the custodian of planning data integrity and process consistency across the group.

Desired Skills:

• Planning manager
• Planner
• Forecasting
• Retail
• Retail planner