Senior Planner (Beauty)

[takealot.com](https://www.takealot.com/), South Africa's leading online retailer, is looking for a highly talented Senior Planner (Beauty) to join ourBeauty Buying team in Cape Town.

We are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us. We offer a market related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs, a great work environment and a promise that you won’t be bored as long as you are prepared for a challenge and want to build something great.

This position reports to the Head of Planning

Your responsibilities will include:

• Oversee the In-stock function including demand planning, ordering and capacity management in line withBeauty department strategy.
• Deliver accurate insights and reports on a timely bases on which department managers can base commercial decisions and deliver on revenue and margin plans.
• Create sustainable In-stock systems and processes in partnership with central analytics, technical and product teams.
• Planning management to support department procurement cycles including but not limited to; seasonality, promotion planning, reaction, import purchasing & continual replenishment.
• Develop & own the bottom-up budgeting plan cycle and reviews in line with performance, margin, stock turn & departmental strategy objectives.
• Own and compile the annual retail sales budget, quarterly plan, working plan as well as on-going reforecasting at category and product levels to ensure budgets are achieved.
• Manage end to end inventory availability and inventory health including: improved in-stock rates (availability), inventory planning at categorisation, systematic forecasting, markdown and clearance provisions, return to supplier activities and warehouse space management.
• Drive process improvement and operational excellence within our supplier base by reducing costs, defects, and lead times, while increasing innovation, automation, and economies of scale.
• Drive complex business analysis that identifies opportunities to improve cost structure and profitability, focusing on continual contribution margin improvements.
• Lead a team of buying assistants; hire, manage and develop a team.
• Support the operations team in delivering a world-class customer experience – monitor and scrutinise department returns, defects and write offs, supporting the customer service team on product queries and resolving any customer complaints.

Qualification & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma (Commerce, Finance, Mathematics or Economics Degree preferable).
• 3-5 years Commercial / Retail experience specifically in Planning.
• Proven track record in planning, inventory management and forecasting.
• Proven track record in spend management (OTB, Margin management, mark down controls).
• Strong numerical and analytical aptitude, and high proficiency creating and managing advanced models.
• Strong proficiency in using analytical tools (Microsoft Excel, SQL and statistical software).

Attributes Required :

• Decision making, problem assessment, analysis, ability to persuade and influence others (including management), multi-tasking, high excel proficiency, ability to work across multiple departments and multiple buyers and buying managers.
• Strong numerical and analytical aptitude, and high proficiency creating and managing advanced models’ Strong proficiency in using analytical tools (Microsoft Excel, SQL and statistical software).
• Experience with process improvement techniques.
• Strong willingness to learn.
• Proven track record in planning, inventory management and forecasting.
• Proven track record in spend management (OTB; Margin management; mark down controls).
• Entrepreneurial/commercial mindset.

The Environment :

• takealot.com employees are entrepreneurial and dynamic, smart, customer- centric, fun and have the shared ambition of takealot.com being the leading e- commerce company in Africa.
• We have fun, work hard, take ownership, work in teams to create solutions, and are always open to direct feedback/new ideas on where we can improve.
• We are short on ego and high on output.
• We are doers and not only thinkers, its all in the execution after all.
• We love what we do and what we are creating.
• We seek to employ an Extra Ordinary Mind who is Smart, has Integrity, and is Hardworking.

If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind so come and join us!

_Takealot Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from the previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities, to apply_.