Demand Planner (Imports - Beauty) at Dis-Chem Pharmacies

Minimum Requirements:
Essential:

• Grade 12 / Matric
• Accounting, Quantitative Management, Logistics and Supply Chain or Inventory Management qualification
• 3 years’ minimum relevant experience in the relevant industry
• Demand Planning
• Knowledge of beauty

Advantageous:

• SAP experience or certification, Windows environment and Advance Excel.
• Previous experience in Inventory Planning and Procurement, Business Analysis and Customer Service and Experience in Pharmaceutical or FMCG.

Job Specification:

• Analyse future import planning and projections for all global sourcing requirements for both Dis-Chem stores and Distribution Centre’s (DC’s).
• Ensure the effective utilisation of forecasting methods and software tools to deliver and monitor forecast accuracy.
• Plan and manage the open to buy process; forecasting sales, markdowns and receipts to maximise opportunity and minimise risks.
• Establish and maintain consolidated reports.
• Analyse and maintain long-range sales forecasts on a weekly basis to ensure recommended order quantities are based on reasonably accurate sales forecasts.
• Conduct daily and weekly analysis and monitoring of all POS activity to develop the right forecast and delivery strategy.
• Establish and manage all promotional, new, and dropped item purchase orders to ensure the product is delivered on time and in full, for all globally sourced items.
• Acquire thorough knowledge of the assortment and promotional planning business processes, as well as a detailed understanding of the replenishment procedures required to execute inventory purchases and/or closeouts.
• Analyse Dis-Chem stores and DC’s flows to predict potential out of stocks and determine the best actions to address.
• Monitor and understand demand plan accuracy with the aim of minimising inaccuracies and the impact thereof.
• Analyse reports daily to identify issues that impact in-stock and or inventory at both store level and DC’s, to optimise availability and maximise inventory efficiency.
• Challenge and consolidate the promotions and launches sales forecasts projected by the Sales and Marketing teams.
• Review orders and ensure they are within DSC guidelines.
• Review recommended replenishment import purchase orders on a weekly basis, and place orders as required to maintain adequate levels of inventory across the supply chain network.
• Review orders and ensure they are within OTB guidelines.
• Forecast import DC stock split, to be used in the planning of required stock allocation or delivery for the first month and preceding months.
• Analyse on-order import facility purchase orders and current inventory need, by all DC’s to determine appropriate distribution centre inventory splits, which is required for all import facility purchase orders prior to arrival. 
• Analyse past and current business trends and provide recommendations to Group Planner and improve opportunities; gain alignment on recommendations and implement findings.
• Display anomalies and assist in relevant changes advised by buyers to rework necessary calculations.
• Running relevant reports for the importance of providing buyers with necessary information for sales and stock at a particular point in time (seasonality, renovations and promotions).
• Assist with compiling monthly reports and monthly summaries.
• Establish and maintain monthly status reports and present to the relevant buyers and category manager.
• Prepare and update monthly summary of FMCG purchases, to be presented at monthly planning meetings.
• Establish and maintain a relationship among planners, sales, marketing and finance, for effective knowledge sharing and optimal forecasting.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams/departments to incorporate the on-boarding of new products, the retirement of old products, customer-specific inventory requirements, regulatory changes, and promotions into the demand planning process and recommendations.
• Support the Replenishment team on new store setups, inventory analysis and case fill rate.
• Support collaboratively with internal Supply Planning Team on future inventory needs.

Competencies

Essential:

• Highest level of data analysis skills, aptitude for technology and excellent problem solving and initiative skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Time management, self-motivated, results-focused and deadline-driven.
• Deadline driven.
• Demonstrate proficiency in statistics, forecasting with an understanding of financial and operational impacts, and mathematical reasoning.
• English – Read, write and speak well.
• Understanding of basic financial principles.
• Trustworthy, Honest, Enthusiastic and Behave with Integrity.