Demand Planner( Everyday Essentials)

Listing reference: click_020026

Listing status: Online

Apply by: 16 May 2025

Position Summary

Industry: FMCG & Supply Management

Job category: Supply and Demand

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

About Our Company

Clicks Group

Introduction

Clicks is on the hunt for a Demand Planner within the PC/Ede/H&E portfolio. The main purpose of this role is to ensure effective demand and statistical forecasting for assigned categories in order to drive profitability through increased sales, improved margins, and working capital productivity

Job Description

To ensure the accurate and effective creation and management of statistical, promotional, event and total forecasts using provided systems and tools for all new and existing product ranges
To recognize and reconcile forecast exceptions to track and manage sales against forecast and validate forecast for OTB management
To determine causal factors impacting forecasts and respond appropriately, (weather, moving events, promotions etc.)
To ensure effective stakeholder management and engagement in order to determine trends, identify new products, evaluate risks and determine inventory and replenishment requirements
To generate and deliver accurate and timely management reports and maintain key metrics against goals in order to analyze forecast performance and ensure forecast accuracy and inventory optimization
To effectively analyze post promotional and event data to determine opportunities, improve future forecasts, and act as necessary for inventory disposition
To effectively lead and prepare for the consensus forecast meetings with key stakeholders in order to enhance key insights and decisions taken
To ensure that the history data cleansing process is followed in order to improve sales history
To ensure the effective execution of the range review process and decision making in order to assist the Category Team to determine optimal range
To look for opportunities to maximize sales potential and support the Category team to develop Category Operating Plans and other initiatives to achieve sales, margin and stock targets

Minimum Requirements

Job Related Knowledge

Essential

FMCG, Supply Chain and Logistics
Data analysis models
Ability to understand and fine tune algorithms for optimal forecast performance
Execution of the new stores / lines / products process using required commercial acumen
Understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share

Desireable

Financial planning models and methodologies
Deep understanding of the consistent management and planning of the supplier base performance metrics, promotional planning cycle, product lifecycle, supply chain optimization for their products, business analysis and reporting

Job Related Skills

Causal factor determination and event driven adjustments
Deep analytical skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups
Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business decisions
Forecasting consumer trends and buying habits 9 24 months in the future
Complex decision making based on statistics, trends and opinions
Presentation skills with focus being on oral and written communication skills
Proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point, spreadsheets, databases
Complex Problem solving
Retail mathematical calculations (e.g. variance to last year, percent of total, turn, Open-to-Buy and sales per square foot)
Strong negotiating and influencing skills

Essential

Job Experience

Strong planning and buying experience with solid understanding of financial and statistical analysis of both
2-4 years experience with distributions requirement planning and other supply chain processes such as demand planning, production planning, scheduling and transportation

Desirable

1-2 years planning and executing projects involving multiple groups across an organization desirable
Experience with retail buying or logistics preferred
Supply chain software knowledge advantageous

Education