Senior Planner - Foschini

Job Description

• The Merchandise Planner is responsible for driving sales, profit, and inventory performance through effective planning, forecasting, and stock management.
• Working closely with Buying, Supply Chain, and Finance teams, the role ensures the right products are available at the right time, in the right quantities, while optimising working capital and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal and annual merchandise plans aligned to company financial targets.
• Forecast sales, margin, inventory, and profit at department and category level.
• Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and adjust stock investments based on trading performance.
• Partner with Buyers to create balanced and commercially effective assortments.
• Analyse sales trends, stock productivity, and customer demand to identify risks and opportunities.
• Drive markdown and clearance strategies to maximise sell-through and profitability.
• Monitor key retail metrics including GMROI, sell-through, inventory turn, weeks of supply, and margin performance.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Logistics, Stores, and Finance to ensure effective stock flow and availability.
• Lead a small team consisting of a planner and allocator

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Business, Retail, Supply Chain, Finance, Mathematics, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years' retail merchandise planning experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with retail planning systems.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, forecasting, OTB, and retail financial planning.

Skills:

• Analytical Processes
• Commercial Acumen
• Contract Management
• Customer Service Delivery
• Planning & Organising
• Policy & Procedures
• Market Research and Analysis
• Supplier Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Global Sourcing
• Strategic eCommerce

Behaviours:

• Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Builds Networks - establishes and nurtures internal and external relationships in order to create robust, and mutually beneficial, partnerships
• Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
• Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
• Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets
• Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems
• Organisational Savvy - understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people
• Situational Adaptability - effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
• Strategic Mindset - thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation