Space Planning Manager

Schlemmer; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Schlemmer in South Africa seeks an experienced Space Planning Manager to lead the Space Planning function, optimise retail space, merchandising strategies and store profitability. This strategic role combines commercial thinking, analytics, and team leadership to maximise category performance across the retail environment.

You will partner across Buyers, Category Managers, Operations, Logistics and suppliers, build effective dashboards, and drive continuous improvement in merchandising

Qualifications

• Marketing degree required.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a senior management role.
• Experience within retail merchandising, category management, or space planning.
• Strong analytical and commercial decision-making abilities.
• Experience working with reporting systems and data analysis.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong project management and strategic planning abilities.
• Customer-focused with the ability to drive operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Space Planning strategy and planogram refresh programme.
• Develop merchandising space plans aligned to category strategies and shopper behaviour.
• Analyse financial performance including GP per square metre, GMROI, GMROM, GMROSS, trading density, and stock density.
• Review dashboards and reporting to support commercial decision-making.
• Drive process standardisation and continuous improvement across the Space Planning function.
• Oversee Space Planning systems, reporting tools, and data management.
• Lead data analysis to optimise merchandising, inventory, and supply chain performance.
• Align category strategies with merchandising execution at store level.
• Partner with Buyers, Category Managers, Operations, Logistics, Store Development, and suppliers.
• Build merchandising strategies that improve profitability and customer shopping experiences.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Space Planning team to achieve business objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Project management

Strategic planning

Retail merchandising

Space planning

Education

Marketing Degree

Tools

Reporting tools

Job description

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Are you an experienced retail leader with a passion for category management, merchandising, and data-driven decision-making?

Our client in Pinetown is seeking a Space Planning Manager to lead their Space Planning function and drive the optimisation of retail space, merchandising strategies, and store profitability. This strategic leadership role combines commercial thinking, customer insight, analytics, and team leadership to maximise category performance across the retail environment.

Working closely with multiple business functions, you'll play a key role in shaping merchandising strategy, improving operational efficiencies, and leading a high-performing team.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Lead the delivery of the Space Planning strategy and planogram refresh programme
• Develop merchandising space plans aligned to category strategies and shopper behaviour
• Analyse financial performance including GP per square metre, GMROI, GMROM, GMROSS, trading density, and stock density
• Review dashboards and reporting to support commercial decision-making
• Drive process standardisation and continuous improvement across the Space Planning function
• Oversee Space Planning systems, reporting tools, and data management
• Lead data analysis to optimise merchandising, inventory, and supply chain performance
• Align category strategies with merchandising execution at store level
• Partner with Buyers, Category Managers, Operations, Logistics, Store Development, and suppliers
• Build merchandising strategies that improve profitability and customer shopping experiences
• Lead, coach, and develop the Space Planning team to achieve business objectives

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Marketing Degree
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a senior management role
• Strong leadership and people management experience
• Experience within retail merchandising, category management, or space planning
• Strong analytical and commercial decision-making abilities
• Experience working with reporting systems and data analysis
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong project management and strategic planning abilities
• Customer-focused with the ability to drive operational excellence
• Ability to lead change, improve processes, and develop high-performing teams

If you're a strategic retail leader who enjoys combining customer insight, analytics, and merchandising to improve business performance, we'd love to hear from you.