Manager, eCommerce Planning

Massmart; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wholesaler in South Africa is seeking a Manager, eCommerce Planning, to enhance their online business performance. The role involves sales and demand planning, inventory management, and promotional execution to maximize revenue and customer experience in a competitive retail environment. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and relevant experience in an omnichannel setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in eCommerce planning or supply chain management.
• Experience with BI tools and forecasting software.
• Strong background in sales and inventory planning.

Responsibilities

• Analyzing sales data for demand forecasts and stock planning.
• Collaborating with marketing and category managers to align sales strategies.
• Monitoring performance metrics to optimize eCommerce strategies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Forecasting

Inventory Management

Sales Planning

Market Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain, Economics, Data Analytics

Postgraduate qualification in Retail, eCommerce, or Supply Chain Management

Tools

BI tools

Forecasting software

eCommerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud)

Job description

Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg Deadline : June 16, 2025 Quick Recommended Links

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Summary :

• The Manager, eCommerce Planning is responsible for driving sales and demand planning, inventory management, promotional execution, and performance analytics to optimize the eCommerce business within a large omni-channel wholesale retailer. The role ensures that products, promotions, and stock are planned effectively to maximize revenue and customer experience.

Functions / Responsibilities :

Sales & Demand Planning

• Analyse historical sales data and market trends to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure optimal stock availability.
• Interpret business goals and customer buying patterns to align sales plans with revenue targets and improve profitability.
• Collaborate with category managers and marketing teams to align product visibility with demand projections and enhance customer engagement.
• Manage seasonal, promotional, and category-specific forecasts to ensure planned stock aligns with expected demand and prevents stockouts.
• Monitor competitor activity and industry trends to adjust sales plans and maintain a competitive advantage.
• Assess demand variability across different eCommerce channels to refine forecasting models and enhance accuracy.
• Communicate forecast changes and risks to internal stakeholders to facilitate proactive decision-making and inventory planning.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Monitor stock levels and sales performance to ensure inventory is optimally allocated and reduces fulfilment delays.
• Coordinate with supply chain teams to align stock replenishment schedules and prevent overstocks or understocks.
• Ensure real-time stock accuracy across fulfilment centres and online storefronts to maintain a seamless shopping experience.
• Identify high-risk SKUs that require prioritization in stock planning to mitigate availability issues.
• Report weekly and monthly inventory metrics to stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and operational efficiency.
• Improve stock planning methodologies using data-driven insights to enhance supply chain responsiveness.

Promotional & Merchandising Planning

• Ensure that promotions are effectively priced, positioned, and communicated on the eCommerce platform to enhance conversion rates.
• Assess the performance of past promotions to refine future planning and improve return on investment.
• Identify key promotional periods and category-specific opportunities to maximize sales potential and customer engagement.
• Collaborate with digital marketing teams to align promotional efforts with paid media strategies and amplify reach.
• Monitor real-time promotional effectiveness to adjust offers dynamically and improve performance.
• Report on promotional results, insights, and learnings to drive continuous improvement in campaign execution.

Performance Monitoring & Analytics

• Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as conversion rates, basket size, and margin performance to optimize strategies.
• Interpret customer behavior data to refine sales and merchandising strategies for improved customer experience.
• Develop reporting dashboards that provide actionable insights on sales, stock, and promotional effectiveness.
• Assess the impact of site changes on business performance to make data driven recommendations for optimization
• Ensure timely and accurate performance reporting to support business planning and decision-making.
• Identify trends and anomalies in performance data to highlight risks and opportunities for strategic intervention.
• Present insights and recommendations to leadership teams to drive data informed decision-making.
• Improve reporting processes and automation to increase efficiency and accuracy in performance tracking.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Consult with category management, buying, and supply chain teams to align business objectives with planning strategies.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to ensure site content and campaigns align with stock and sales plans.
• Act as a key liaison between eCommerce operations and fulfilment teams to enhance service levels.
• Ensure alignment between digital and physical retail planning to create a seamless omni-channel experience.
• Support internal teams with data insights and planning expertise to enable informed decision-making.
• Influence business strategies by providing relevant market and performance insights.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and planning discussions to drive alignment and collaboration.

Process & System Optimization

• Identify inefficiencies in forecasting and planning processes to enhance accuracy and agility.
• Improve demand planning tools and methodologies using predictive analytics and automation.
• Implement new technologies and data-driven approaches to optimize planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Develop scalable processes that support business growth and expansion into new categories.
• Monitor system-generated reports for accuracy and data integrity to enhance decision-making confidence.
• Ensure continuous process improvements that enhance agility in responding to market changes.
• Standardize best practices in eCommerce planning to improve consistency and execution.
• Train internal stakeholders on planning tools, processes, and methodologies to enhance capability.

Requirements :

Minimum Academic, Professional Qualifications and Experience required for this position

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in Retail, eCommerce, or Supply Chain Management is advantageous.

Experience :

• 5+ years of experience in eCommerce planning, demand forecasting, merchandising, or supply chain management within a retail or wholesale environment.
• Proven track record in sales and inventory planning, with experience in managing demand fluctuations, stock allocation, and promotional execution.
• Experience working in an omnichannel retail environment, understanding the interplay between online and offline sales, inventory, and customer behavior.
• Strong analytical background, with experience using BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar) and forecasting software.
• Hands-on experience with eCommerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or proprietary systems) for stock and promotional planning.
• Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams to drive business performance.
• Experience in promotional planning and execution, including markdown strategies, seasonal sales events, and new product launches.
• Understanding of customer insights and market trends to inform demand planning and assortment strategies.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment, making data-driven decisions to optimize performance.
• Experience in process and system optimization, identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements in demand forecasting and stock planning.