ASSORTMENT PLANNER - GROCERIES

Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain

Location: Western Cape

Contract: Permanent

EE position: No

Introduction

Translate the category strategy and create an optimal assortment based on customer demand to deliver improved customer satisfaction and optimized profit.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day Assortment Process to ensure the category strategy is reflected in the assortments across store formats.
• Be a key contributor to the end-to-end range review process.
• Integrate with Buyer and Planner to understand the impact of the ILC.
• Provide input into the clustering recommendations for the category (ies) and make recommendations to the relevant stakeholders.
• Understand the key strategic drivers for the category through the Category Development process and turn them into effective and profitable assortment tactics.
• Optimize the input parameters that drive Assortment Optimization (AO) as required which includes the types and accuracy standards of data required to allow AO to run effectively.
• Advise category team members on the best way to achieve the best results from the AO system.
• Conduct Impact Assessments.
• Tap into the skillset of the Centre of Excellence team (COE) to stay abreast of leading assortment thinking and techniques.
• Attend all relevant training and meetings to ensure that new ways of assortment planning are incorporated into your ways of working.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant Retail / FMCG experience.
• Relevant tertiary degree or qualification.
• Great understanding of the merchandising industry and good customer knowledge.
• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Strong commercial acumen and credibility.
• Strong assortment planning skills with high ability to integrate.
• Project management and process thinking skills.
• Ability to influence others, build and sustain relationships across functional teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.
• Previous retail management experience in the fields of planning, assortment, range and merchandising with a large global retailer (Supermarket retail experience preferred).
• Good buying, planning or assortment planning experience (at least 3 years) within foods retailing.
• Understanding and analysis of current & future techniques and trends.
• Trend Analysis, the ability to analyze and review past / historical information.
• Some knowledge and understanding of consumer shopping habits; competitor activity and market players in the retail sector; consumer demographics.
• The ability to analyze, interpret and optimize KPI's relevant to assortment plans.
• Range & Catalogue Management, the understanding of range construction, analysis and optimizing performance.
• Understand themselves and the impact they have on the people they interact with and the organization culture and adjust their behaviour accordingly.
• Plays a leading role in driving sustainable transformational initiatives at a BU level and/or Group level.
• Is recognized by the leadership, peers and reports as competent and can hold their own with colleagues in their field.
• Builds strong networks and strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Engages and connects people to enable delivery of BU strategy and operating plan.
• Are consistent in their decision making and own the consequences thereof due to strong business understanding and commercial knowledge.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and reacts to commercial issues within their BU.