Product Planner: Kids

Ackermans is seeking a confident and positive Product Planner for their Kids Team at the Support Centre. The role involves delivering and implementing departmental business plans, managing forecasts, preparing merchandise assortment plans, ensuring sufficient inflows, and providing accurate merchandise information. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical, commercial, and interpersonal skills, with a focus on driving profitability and supporting the SBU’s merchandise strategy.

Must Have

• Deliver and implement departmental business plans supporting SBU’s merchandise strategy.
• Manage departmental forecasts for growth and profitability.
• Prepare and deliver merchandise assortment plans.
• Ensure sufficient inflows for replenishment service levels.
• Provide accurate and timely merchandise information.
• Execute and manage project plans.
• Grade 12 certificate.
• 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.
• Minimum 2-3 years product planning experience in retail and/or FMCG environment.
• Experience working with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Good to Have

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

Are you a forward-thinker with an analytical mind? The search is on, and our Kids Team is eagerly seeking an exceptional Planner to join our dynamic team.

At Ackermans, we believe in fostering an environment where innovation meets ambition. We are a community of dedicated individuals who are passionate about driving success.

We're on the lookout for a confident and positive Planner to play a pivotal role in our journey.

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:

• A Grade 12 certificate is an essential requirement.
• A qualification would be a definite advantage. Preferred qualifications are:
• 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 of:

• 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

Demonstrate:

• 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 an ESSENTIAL requirement.

Preferred experience:

• 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.

If you possess the experience and skills ready to take on a challenging yet rewarding role, we encourage you to apply and be a part of our dynamic team!