Planning Manager

The Fieldbar Co.; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fieldbar Co. in Cape Town is seeking an Allocation Planner to ensure stock is correctly allocated across regions and channels, bridging production and sales.

You will translate production outputs and demand into region-specific stock plans, reporting to the Head of Business Planning and Operations. Responsibilities include stock allocation, shipment planning, regional balance, and new product launch planning, with inventory reporting and accuracy as ongoing focus.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in a planning role (stock/allocation/supply/demand).
• Proven experience moving inventory from production to sales.
• Experience producing inventory and stock reports.
• ERP/inventory systems experience; Cin7 is advantageous.
• Experience with planning tools and BI/reporting tools (Power BI/Looker Studio).
• Experience planning stock across regions/channels; advantageous for retail store replenishment and launches.

Responsibilities

• Plan stock for each shipment and balance regional inventory.
• Allocate stock from production to regions and channels by demand and priorities.
• Coordinate with logistics, warehousing and 3PL to ensure on-time shipments.
• Monitor regional stock levels and rebalance to avoid stockouts/overstock.
• Plan launch quantities and regional allocations for new products.
• Produce regular stock and allocation reports and support counts and reconciliations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel / Google Sheets

Lead-time awareness

Attention to detail

Clear communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Supply chain / Logistics / Business qualification

Tools

Cin7

Power BI

Looker Studio

Shopify (adv)

Job description

We are a Cape Town-based company with global ambitions in premium, design-led outdoor products. Through our FIELDBAR brand, we make products that combine functional technicality, craftsmanship, and bold creativity. We challenge conventional thinking and set a high bar in everything we do. We value kindness, positivity, and equal opportunities.

We offer the right candidates an innovative, high-growth environment where they can learn, grow, and develop their career paths.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an Allocation Planner to make sure the right stock is in the right place at the right time across every region and channel we sell into.

The role sits between production and sales, turning production output and sales demand into a stock plan for each region. Reporting to the Head of Business Planning and Operations, the successful candidate will work closely with production, sales, logistics, finance and marketing to keep stock available for growth without building up excess inventory.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To manage the flow of finished stock from production to sales, plan stock for every shipment, and balance inventory across regions, channels and our retail store so that availability supports sales targets without excess stock building up.

The role will focus on stock allocation, shipment planning, regional stock balance, new product launches and, once open, retail store stock planning, supported by accurate and timely inventory reporting.

SUCCESS OUTCOMES (FOR THE ROLE)

1. Stock Allocation and Forward Cover

• Allocate finished stock from production to regions and sales channels according to demand, budget and business priorities.
• Align production output schedules with sales forecasts and confirmed orders.
• Keep weeks of forward cover in each region within the budgeted range, avoiding both stock-outs and overstock.
• Measured by: forward cover per region held within the agreed budget range, with no avoidable stock-outs.

2. Shipment Planning

• Plan and reserve stock for all outbound and inter-regional shipments ahead of dispatch dates.
• Coordinate with logistics, warehousing and 3PL partners so that shipments leave complete and on time.
• Track shipments in transit and adjust plans when delays or shortages arise.
• Measured by: shipments dispatched complete and on the planned date.

3. Regional Stock Balance and Colour Splits

• Monitor stock levels in each region and rebalance between regions to prevent stock-outs and overstock.
• Plan the colour and variant split for each region based on sales history and trends.
• Identify slow-moving and excess stock early and recommend actions to clear it.
• Measured by: planned colour and variant mix against actual sales mix per region, with slow-selling colours kept to a minimum.

4. New Product Launch Planning

• Plan launch quantities, timing and regional allocation for new products.
• Work with product and marketing so that launch stock is allocated, shipped and available in each region by the launch date.
• Measured by: launch stock in place in every launch region by the agreed launch date.

5. Inventory Reporting and Accuracy

• Produce regular reports on stock levels, forward cover, allocations and inventory accuracy.
• Run and support stock counts and reconciliations, and investigate variances.Measured by: reports delivered on schedule, and stock count variances within the agreed tolerance.
• Work with sales to understand growth plans, promotions and key accounts, and plan stock to support them.
• Work with finance to keep stock cover and inventory value aligned with the budget.
• Work with the Business Data Analyst to flag risks and opportunities in the stock position early so the business can act.
• Measured by: no sales lost to unplanned stock shortages on growth plans, promotions or key accounts.

7. Retail Store Stock Planning (once the store is open)

• Plan the store’s opening range, depth and colour mix in line with its sales targets and floor space.
• Set replenishment levels and plan regular warehouse-to-store transfers so best-sellers and the core range stay on shelf.
• Allocate launch and promotional stock to the store alongside the online and wholesale channels.
• Track store sell-through by product and colour, and adjust the range and replenishment to match what sells.
• Work with the retail team on store stock counts, returns and display requirements.
• Measured by: core-range and best-seller availability in store, with store stock cover held within the agreed range.

COMPETENCIES – ROLE

• Strong analytical skills: works from the numbers, spots trends and anomalies quickly, and backs decisions with data.
• Strong understanding of lead times and timing, and how they affect stock availability.
• Advanced Excel / Google Sheets skills, including pivot tables and lookups.
• Highly detail-oriented, taking care with quantities, splits and dates.
• Resilient under pressure, and able to find a workable plan quickly when orders change, shipments slip or stock falls short.
• Clear communicator who can explain stock positions, risks and plans simply to production, sales, logistics and management.
• Collaborative, building strong working relationships across teams and balancing competing demands fairly.

COMPETENCIES – CULTURAL

• We strive for high standards in everything.
• We always present ourselves professionally.
• When we make mistakes, we apologise and take full accountability.
• We have rules, but these rules are, from time to time, subject to our judgment and adhere to the principle of what is “right and fair”.
• We are always a pleasure to deal with.
• Above all, we are KIND.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 3–5 years’ experience in a planning role such as stock, allocation, supply or demand planning.
• Proven experience managing the flow of inventory from production through to sales.
• Experience producing clear, accurate inventory and stock reports.
• Experience with an ERP or inventory management system (Cin7 is advantageous).
• Experience working in planning tools, such as advanced spreadsheet models in Excel or Google Sheets, inventory or demand planning software, and BI or reporting tools (e.g. Power BI, Looker Studio). Experience with Shopify is advantageous.
• Experience planning stock across multiple regions or channels is advantageous.
• Experience planning new product launches and working with colour or variant-based ranges is advantageous.
• Experience with retail store replenishment or range planning is advantageous.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.

This is an ONSITE position, and you will be expected to come into our office in Foreshore, Cape Town, outside of trade visits and meetings. You will be expected to have your own transport and will be reimbursed for work-related mileage at the rates set out by SARS.

CTC