Category Planner
In the South Africa you will be working
? For one of SA’s largest TV Advertisers
? For the most successful market innovator in the sector – with 40% of sales over three years coming from new products.
? On No 1 or No 2 brands in all our primary markets
Why this role is the one for you?
? You have a passion for achievement; strong planning and analytical skills, integrity and drive with a strong desire to make things happen
? You want to have full accountability for effectively planning the forecast on several categories coming from both external sources and company factories for the SA market, ensuring forecast accuracy, customer service and inventory targets can be met.
? You want to be known for effectively managing product changes, maximizing forecasting accuracy on all products within portfolio and driving improvements
Responsibilities/Accountabilities
? In close co-operation with the Sales and Marketing teams, create, monitor and revise forecasts for all products, ensuring accuracy measures are met and continuously improve.
? Analyse recent trends and make adjustments to forecast where appropriate.
? Plan complex product supply chains including promotional packs and associated material planning.
? Manage, plan and lead key local suppliers to deliver finished goods in line with a firm order plan.
? Analyse promotional volumes and challenge where appropriate with KAMs to ensure best supply and financial forecast.
? Drive monthly S&OP process through sales planning meetings and brand forecast reviews.
? Good commercial understanding including bottom up vs. top down gap management process.
? Ability to present complex data coherently in order to build better understanding within the sales/marketing teams.
? Understanding of how customer listing, media and stock in trade affect future forecasts.
Professional Skills and Competencies
? Graduate calibre, with supply chain or production planning experience within an FMCG.
? Manugistics & JDE experience preferred but not essential.
? Exceptional ability to manage workload and identify priority tasks to meet tight deadlines.
? Strong influencing / communication expertise.
? Ability to build good relationships and challenge constructively and confidently.
? Ability to consolidate large volumes of complex information, interpret & construct straightforward plans. Naturally inquisitive and interested in the brands.
? Confident and capable of operating at all levels and able to resolve conflict situations
? Competent with PC tools and information systems with advanced knowledge of Excel
? Ability to challenge the status quo and propose improvement.
? Able to apply appropriate problem solving techniques to evaluate and resolve operational issues.
Position within the local Supply Service Team:
? Reporting into the local Category Planning Manager who reports to the local Supply Services Manager.
? Supply Services has a dotted reporting line into the regional Manufacturing director (based in SA) and a solid reporting line into the regional Supply Services Directory responsible for the business area.