Planner: Senior JD Sports (Fixed-Term Contract)

JD is a sports fashion, multichannel retailer of branded sports and casual wear, combining globally recognised brands such as Nike, adidas, Puma and The North Face, with strong private labels such as Pink Soda and Supply & Demand, to provide an elevated consumer experience.

JD Sports will be the exclusive retail partner to TFG and will further bolster our existing Sports positioning, with our Sportscene, Totalsports and Sneaker Factory stores already being the destinations of choice for athletic and leisure sports apparel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the buying team to maximise sales, analyse performance & optimise product stock levels
• Understanding and interpreting business trends in terms of the Sports and Lifestyle market
• Analysis of merchandise performance and appropriate actions proposed
• Product strategy effectively communicated, and implemented
• Financial and strategic management of the product e.g., product planning, allocations, controlling OTB, reviewing weekly & monthly figures
• Management of range assortments
• Management of replenishment stock
• Collaborative partnerships with internal and external suppliers established and maintained

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma, Graduate Degree, or Post Graduate Degree
• Have experience as a Planner (5+ years essential)
• Trader mentality, business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking
• A good working knowledge of the current computer software packages (knowledge of Excel, Word & E-mail would be preferable).

Skills:

• A high degree of numeracy and analytical thinking
• The ability to think and operate at a strategic level
• A detailed and methodical approach to work
• To be able to make decisions and meet deadlines whilst working in a fast-paced, pressurised environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• To confidently influence and persuade at all levels
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to work effectively individually as well as within a team environment

Behaviours:

• Applies market and business insights to drive organisational objectives
• forms, develops, and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Develops plans and prioritises initiatives that align to the organisational goals and objectives
• Assesses and improves the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of various work processes
• Quickly adapts and acquires new knowledge, skills, and competencies in a rapidly changing environment
• Interprets and simplifies complex information when resolving organisational problems

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