JOB PURPOSE:
To add value to the Company in driving product profitability by providing exceptional Merchandise insights to relevant stakeholders and to govern and support the Company merchandise plans in line with the Merchandise Strategy.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Governance of Company Product Plans
- Reviews market share data and provides insights.
- Provides input into 5-year company plans (Pre-Season).
- Provides visibility of all KPI's impacting the proposed plan.
- Reports on deviations (in season).
- Highlights risk and drift to our plans at seasonality level continually during the merch cycle.
- Tracks compound annual growth.
- Highlights calendar shifts to Business (weekly).
Analysis and Merchandise Insights
- Provides accurate basket insights to all SBUs leading up to Strategic Intent upon request.
- Analyzes RLC data.
- Provides insight to stakeholders to review and compare market sales (monthly).
- Provides insights on strategic initiatives.
- Communicates effectively to influence Merchant teams based on insights gathered to ensure the Company merchandise strategy is impacted positively.
Reporting
- Reports monthly on Management pack.
- Creates weekly Merchandise deck on product performance.
- Handles adhoc reporting based on business need.
- Communicates effectively to relevant stakeholders ensuring alignment with Simplicity.
- Continuously and creatively enhances the method of reporting to ensure relevance to our internal customers.
Governance of Planning Processes and Policies
- Maintains product hierarchy and ensures compliance in line with the company naming policy (Bi-annually and before strategic intent).
- Effectively governs, creates, and updates product planning processes and policies across the merchandise divisions.
- Identifies and addresses pressure points in Company policies and processes.
- Documents new planning processes and policies to ensure Governance.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Essential:
- A minimum of 3+ years of Product experience within a clothing retail environment.
- Working experience in planning systems such as Merchandise Financial Plans.
- Working experience in the latest Microsoft packages (Word, PowerPoint & Advanced Excel).
Preferred:
- Experience working in planning systems such as Assortment Planning & replenishment (2-3 years).
- Exposure to Business Intelligence Systems.
- Exposure to Basket analysis.
- Previous exposure to and understanding of logistics and supply chain processes.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Excellent numerical skills.
- Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills.
- Merchant skills & a sound commercial mentality.
- Interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Planning, organizing & time management skills.
- Conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to create a shared vision and positively influence others to make decisions.
- Effective communication at all levels.
- Self-motivated, responsible, and prideful in one’s work.
- Able to work independently, as well as be a team player.
- Attention to detail.
- Ability to remain focused and flexible, function under pressure, and maintain a positive attitude.
- Resilience, tenacity, and high levels of drive and initiative under pressure.
- Methodical, detail-oriented, and accurate.
- Assertive and deadline-oriented.
- Proactive and able to use one’s own initiative.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Essential:
- A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric.
- B. Comm./B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics, and/or Business Science OR
- National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and/or Cost and Management Accounting OR
- National Diploma in Financial Information Systems OR
- National Diploma/degree in Business/Retail/Merchandise Management or Accounting/Finance.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
- Knowledge of the Retail merchandise cycle in terms of Buying, Planning, Logistics, and Stores.
- Knowledge of the retail and merchandise planning processes.
- Knowledge of seasonal & replenishment products.
- Knowledge of the SA retail clothing market, customers, and competitors.
#J-18808-Ljbffr