Demand Planner

**Position Objective**:
Maximise Sales and Profitability in the business by providing effective Merchandise Strategies. Planning and In Season management of Assortments and Inventory by Department /Concept/Territory/Class/Sub-Class and Item levels to achieve or exceed strategic targets set by the business.

**Key Responsibilities**:
Planning (Seasonally)

Prepare a Post Seasonal Analysis of past performance at Concept/Territory and Department levels down to Class/Sub-Class and Item levels.
Discuss and prepare a SWOT analysis of the above and document action plans in preparation for the Strategic Planning Process
Propose Seasonal Strategies on Sales, Price point, Supplier, Brands,Size,Colour and Assortment Dimensions (Where applicable) at Concept/Territory levels down to Class/Sub-Class levels together with the Buyers taking into account past performance and future trends..
Presentation of the Departmental Strategies to the Management for approval
Prepare and Propose Seasonal Budgets derived and validated on MFP at Concept/Territory levels down to Class/Sub-Class levels based on the approved Strategy to match the financial targets set for Sales, Opening /Closing Stocks, Inflows, Forward covers and Sales Margins.
Prepare Store Grading at Class/Subclass levels to determine the Width and Depth of Ranges for Large, Medium and Small stores with Order quantities (where applicable).
Prepare a Theoretical Range Plan and present to the Planning Manager for approval.
Collaborate with the Buyers and together finalise into a Buy Plan (Range Plan) by month at Class/Subclass levels to match the Strategy Plans for (Quantities,Options,Prices and Suppliers) and Financial parameters (OTB/Inflows) set by Month.
Prepare reports to measure actuals against plan for In Season management of all of the above.(where applicable)
Ensure that the standards of Merchandise procedures and Methodologies are maintained and kept uniform.

In Season Management

Monitor Orders being placed against Open to buy targets by month on the Buy Plan ensuring that the Orders are placed timeously and according to assortment plans. (Daily/Weekly)
Weekly forecasting on MFP down to Territory / subclass level in order to identify exceptions to be addressed i.e. over performance/ underperformance in sales pattern. Stockholdings, Forward Covers and Inflows and propose actions on out of line situations to the Buyers in a weekly Department meeting with action to be taken by the Planner (where Applicable)
Monitor Good and bad selling Items to agreed parameters and propose actions to be taken on Reorders or Price Adjustments for Slow sellers. (Weekly).
Ensure the availability of all replenishment items and that a scheduled review of Replenishment Orders take place to ensure availability and that there are no stock outs. (Weekly)
Check that all stock received in Territories is allocated to Stores and is selling, discuss out of line situations with the Buyers and inform Territories of out of line situations for action to be taken.(Weekly)
Check for Items that need consolidation to agreed parameters and inform Territories for action.(Weekly)

In Season Management (Monthly)

Monitor Seasonal Budget performance against Plan and reforecast taking into account past performance and trends for Sales, Opening and Closing Stocks and monthly Inflows/Open to Buy ( monthly) (Where Applicable).
Monitor Sales Margins to ensure that Margins are being achieved across Territories By department
Agree with the buying department on any adjustments to be made or actions to be taken in order to maintain a profitable operation. These workings to be presented to Management at monthly trading meeting.
To Analyse Territory Ageing Stocks and identify out of line situations to agreed Concept Targets. Propose actions to management for approval & communicate to Concept Retail Manager and Territories on actions to be taken.(Monthly)
Analyse Promotions and Events and communicate the performance results and out of line situations to the Buyer and Management Team with lessons learnt. (Monthly).
Prepare and attend a Monthly Management Trading Meeting to give feedback on Department performance and actions to be taken on out of line situations together with the buyer to management..

Store/Competitor Visits.

Visit Terr/Stores on an agreed frequency to be abreast with Product performance and trends.
Be in tune with Territory /Store specific requirements with regard to Quantity, Range, Price and Customer base
Visit Competitors to identify their Range Composition, Options and Prices.
Report findings and out of line situations to the buyer and as a team put together an action plan to resolve situation
This is to be communicated to territories and management.

Systems Maintenance and Enhancement

Ensure that there are adequate reports to measure performance to plan for all of the above
Ensure that any additional System requirements are communicated to the Planning Manager

People Management

Monitor Traine