Head of Planning - Foschini

Job Description

Foschini is an iconic womenswear brand that is passionate about giving our customers the most wanted trends when she wants them. This is powered by our drive for local design and manufacturing which ensures speed to market and creates employment and social upliftment. This supports our purpose of empowering confident and successful women who make the world a better place.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the Planning team to conceptualise and implement the merchandise strategy in line with overall company strategy.
2. Deliver consolidated company seasonal merchandise, location and assortment plans, including performance and monthly forecasts to the relevant stakeholders.
3. Strategize, manage and control merchandise, markdown and promotional budgets aligned to business financial budgets to deliver on all KPI targets.
4. Ensure set objectives and KPIs are met and/or exceeded incl. turnover growth, profitability, PIS, CSOH, margins, stock turn and clearance.
5. Ensure successful execution of product range, assortment and allocation in store and online in collaboration with store operations, buying, marketing, logistics and IT teams.
6. Manage product strategy to ensure product availability, sizing and location - i.e. Right stock, in right place, at the right time.
7. Influence fashionability and the right product mix through the chain to maximise sales and gross margin opportunities.
8. Drive customer focused strategies to increase service levels ensuring stock and size availability and rewards programs.
9. Monitor product and range performance, anticipate market threats and opportunities to drive appropriate team action.
10. Identify strategies to minimise the aging of inventory.
11. Develop and implement a strategy to ensure the function is operating in line with the objectives of the business to add value, mitigate supply chain risk, optimising cost savings and profitability.
12. Establish/develop and/or maintain sustainable supplier relationships.
13. Negotiate terms with suppliers in line with overall margin, service and quality targets.
14. Leading and managing a high-performance Merchandise team building strong talent pipelines, and developing and retaining talent.
15. Leading and managing cross functional interpersonal relationships to enable optimal business success.
16. Work alongside the senior management team in contributing to overall company strategy.

Qualifications And Experience

1. Minimum 8 years working experience at a senior management level, incl. people/team management.
2. A relevant tertiary qualification.
3. Minimum 15 years relevant planning/merchandise experience is essential.

Skills

1. Ability to work comfortably at both a strategic and operational level.
2. Ability to drive change, persuade and influence both internal and external stakeholders (often without direct authority).
3. Demonstrate a high level of maturity, emotional intelligence and insight into diverse teams and individuals.
4. Ability to work well under pressure and deliver to aggressive deadlines, incl. problem solving.
5. Exceptional analytical ability to effectively evaluate and drive functional KPIs.
6. Strong written and verbal communication at all levels of organisation.
7. Exceptional leadership skills incl. the ability to attract, hire, retain and motivate assigned team members and talent pool.

Behaviours

1. Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
2. Forms, develops, and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective.
3. Creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success.
4. Consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions.
5. Inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation.
6. Takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets.
7. Interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems.
8. Effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation.
9. Thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation.

Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.

About Us

Who we are is because of our people. They are our greatest asset. TFG is an internationally diversified retail portfolio of 34 speciality lifestyle and apparel brands that Inspire our Customers to live their Best Lives and are woven into the lives of millions. Our vision is to create the most remarkable omnichannel experiences for our customers. TFG is more than a workplace, it's a launchpad for your growth. Join us and explore endless growth opportunities across our diverse brands. We’re a purpose-led business, and on this team, you’ll share the pride of making an impact across a whole industry.

We’re the designers, the makers, the shakers and the teams behind the scenes.

Are you with us?