Senior Planner: Produce & Horti
Main Purpose
To inspire and provide strategic and operational direction to maximise trading opportunities in a matrix structure. Providing accurate forecasts of customer demand through management by exception, optimising inventory management.
Key Responsibilities
- To lead, manage and develop matrix team members
- Optimise profitability through effective management of a set of KPI’s on a through effective reporting and analysis
- Review performance and adjust levers to deliver to a set of KPI’s in line with the agreed targets
- Conduct, interpret and share reporting and analysis of current and historical performance to optimise future planning with sustainable solutions.
- Contribute to the development of the Department/Category Strategy and lead the implementation with a specific focus on planning objectives and requirements
- Coordinate and provide input in development of Long Term Tactical plans and Supply Management
- Analysis of historical and current performance
- Understand market / product trends as well as department focus that could impact demand
- Communicate and integrate with all key stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure objectives are aligned
Key Competencies
- Minimum of 4-6 years of planning experience in FMCG and/or Finance
- Proven Planning skills
- Relevant Degree – Retail or business related tertiary qualification would be an advantage
- Ability to work in a matrix structure
- Valid driver’s license advantageous
- Should be flexible to travel and may be required to work weekends where necessary
- Computer literacy and competent excel skills
- Highly numerate and able to deal with large volumes of data
- Excellent understanding of internal and external factors impacting on customer demand
- Strong merchant skills
- Good product knowledge and understanding of product life cycle
- Strong analytical skill/interpretative ability, including understanding of and ability to read graphs and identify trends
- Good process/ system skills
- Proven ability to use statistical forecasting tool
- Problem solving skills – ability to identify problems and implement effective solutions
- Proactive – ability to anticipate events and plan for them in detail
- Ability to be productive in a pressurized and changing environment
- Team player – ability to work effectively and interdependently with diverse team members
- Understanding of WW quality ethos and upholding of personal high standards
- Knowledge of store operations (including customer profiles, competitors, etc.)
Management / Leadership (includes personal leadership)
- Personal effectiveness
- Passion for the brand and customer
- Leading Transformation
- Delivering high performance
- Making insightful business decisions
- Planning and organizing
- Judgment and decision making
- Assertive communication skills and the ability to manage conflict
- Customer orientation
- Strong integrator across the matrix with proven leadership skills and people management skills
- Self-driven, with attention to detail, capable of managing tight deadlines
- Operates with integrity
- Understanding of Woolworths quality ethos and upholding of personal high standards
- Manage team of planners
- Provide guidance in terms of career, coach and mentor team members
- Ability to work within a team – good sustainable relationship with individuals
- Ability to present ideas and solutions based on facts that may influence others
- Understanding of the industry parameters/legislation/business principles
- Be the expert in your field both technically and functionally
“As a proud South African brand, Woolworths is committed to transformation. Meeting our employment equity goals will be taken into account in our recruitment decisions.”
Closing Date: 01 December 2020
Desired Skills:
- As per the job spec