Product Planner: Home

Ackermans is looking for an experienced Product Planner to optimize their Beauty & Home business and ensure operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of beauty & home in a value retail business, be self-motivated, passionate about data-driven performance, and capable of driving results through numbers. This role requires high energy to thrive in a dynamic retail environment.

Must Have

• Delivering and implementing departmental business plans that support the SBU’s merchandise strategy.
• Managing departmental forecasts to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
• Preparing and delivering merchandise assortment plans that support the signed-off departmental business strategy.
• Ensuring sufficient inflows to maintaining agreed replenishment service levels to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
• Providing accurate and timeous merchandise information to minimise risk and optimise business opportunities.
• Executing and managing project plans to achieve the agreed objectives (if applicable).
• Grade 12 certificate / Matric.
• Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores.
• Knowledge of seasonal & non-seasonal replenishments.
• Knowledge of the SA retail clothing market, customers and competitors.
• Sound commercial thinking & numerical skills.
• Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills.
• Interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Planning, organising & time management skills.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Resilience, agility, and the ability to maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure.
• Collaboration skills, fostering a shared vision, and positively influencing decision-making in a team setting.
• Flexibility to function effectively under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work performance in diverse circumstances.
• Self-motivation, a sense of responsibility, and pride in one's work.
• Methodical and detail-oriented approach, ensuring accuracy in tasks.
• Effective communication skills across all levels.
• Strong sense of integrity in professional conduct.
• Deadline-oriented mindset.
• Assertiveness in handling tasks and responsibilities.
• A minimum of 2-3 years previous experience in product planning within a relevant retail and/or FMCG environment is essential.
• Replenishment and assortment planning experience.
• Prior store planning experience.
• Previous store management experience (1 – 2 years).
• Previous exposure to general logistics and supply chain processes.
• Experience working in planning systems.
• Experience working with the most recent Microsoft software, including Word and Excel, is a prerequisite.

Good to Have

• B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Stats and Business Science OR National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and Cost and Management Accounting OR National Diploma in Financial Information Systems
• Proficiency in advanced Excel usage would be an asset.

We’re looking for an experienced planner to optimize our Beauty & Home business and drive-through on operational excellence.

Our ideal candidate? An experienced planner with a strong understanding of beauty & home in a value retail business. A self-motivated individual who's passionate about data-driven performance and driving results through numbers. You'll need to bring your high energy level to keep up with the excitement of our retail environment!

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivering and implementing departmental business plans that support the SBU’s merchandise strategy.
• Managing departmental forecasts to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
• Preparing and delivering merchandise assortment plans that support the signed-off departmental business strategy.
• Ensuring sufficient inflows to maintaining agreed replenishment service levels to achieve agreed departmental growth and profitability as per the Business Plan.
• Providing accurate and timeous merchandise information to minimise risk and optimise business opportunities.
• Executing and managing project plans to achieve the agreed objectives (if applicable).

Qualifications required:

Essential: Grade 12 certificate / Matric

Preferred:

• B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Stats and Business Science OR
• National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and Cost and Management Accounting OR
• National Diploma in Financial Information Systems

Knowledge Required:

• the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
• seasonal & non-seasonal replenishments
• the SA retail clothing market, customers and competitors

Skills Required:

• Sound commercial thinking & numerical skills
• Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Planning, organising & time management skills.
• Conflict resolution skills
• Resilience, agility, and the ability to maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure.
• Collaboration skills, fostering a shared vision, and positively influencing decision-making in a team setting.
• Flexibility to function effectively under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work performance in diverse circumstances.
• Self-motivation, a sense of responsibility, and pride in one's work.
• Methodical and detail-oriented approach, ensuring accuracy in tasks.
• Effective communication skills across all levels.
• Strong sense of integrity in professional conduct.
• Deadline-oriented mindset.
• Assertiveness in handling tasks and responsibilities

Experience Required:

• A minimum of 2-3 years previous experience in product planning within a relevant retail and/or FMCG environment is essential.
• Replenishment and assortment planning experience
• Prior store planning experience
• Previous store management experience (1 – 2 years)
• Previous exposure to general logistics and supply chain processes
• Experience working in planning systems.
• Experience working with the most recent Microsoft software, including Word and Excel, is a prerequisite. Proficiency in advanced Excel usage would be an asset.