Central Planning Analyst: Product

Are you a skilled Central Product Planning Analyst with a background in retail clothing and a passion for driving product profitability? Our client, a leader in the Retail sector, is seeking a Central Product Planning Analyst to join their team. In this role, you’ll provide valuable merchandise insights, support strategic planning, and play a vital role in optimizing product performance. If you’re detail-oriented, analytical, and excited to contribute to impactful merchandise decisions, this is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic retail environment

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Governance of Company Product Plans

• Reviews market share data and provide insights.
• Provides input into 5-year company plans (Pre-Season)
• Provides visibility of all KPI’s impacting the proposed plan
• Reporting on deviations (in season)
• Highlight risk and drift to our plans at seasonality level continually during merch cycle
• Tracks compound annual growth
• Highlighting calendar shifts to Business (weekly)

Analysis and Merchandise Insights

• Providing accurate basket insights to all SBU’s leading up to Strategic Intent upon request
• Analyze RLC data
• Provides insight to stakeholders to review and compare market sales (monthly)
• Provides insights on strategic initiatives Character
• Communicate effectively to influence Merchant teams based on insights gathered to ensure the Company merchandise strategy is impacted positively.

Reporting

• Reporting monthly on Management pack
• Weekly Merchandise deck on product performance
• Adhoc reporting based on business need
• Communicate effectively to relevant stakeholders ensuring in line with Simplicity
• Continuously and creatively enhance the method of reporting to ensure we remain relevant to ourinternal Customer

Governance of Planning processes and policies

• Maintaining product hierarchy and ensure compliance in line with the company naming policy (Bi-annually and before strategic intent)
• To effectively govern, create and update product planning processes and polices across themerchandise divisions.
• Actively identifying and addressing pressure points in Company policies and processes.
• Identifying and documenting new planning processes and policies to ensure Governance

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Essential:

• A minimum of 3+ years of Product experience within a clothing retail environment
• Working experience in planning systems such as Merchandise Financial Plans
• Working experience in the latest Microsoft packages (Word, PowerPoint & Advanced Excel)

Preferred:

• Experience working in planning systems such as Assortment Planning, & and replenishment (2-3 years)
• Exposure to Business Intelligence Systems
• Exposure to Basket analysis
• Previous exposure to and understanding of logistics and supply chain processes

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Essential:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
• B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics and/or Business Science OR
• National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and/or Cost and Management Accounting OR
• National Diploma in Financial Information Systems OR
• National Diploma/ degree in Business/Retail/Merchandise Management or Accounting/Finance

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of the Retail merchandise cycle in terms of Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
• Knowledge of the retail and merchandise planning processes
• Knowledge of seasonal & replenishment products
• Knowledge of the SA retail clothing market, customers, and competitors