Junior Planner

Job Description -Junior Planner Position : Junior Planner (D2R) Department : Merchandise Location : Cape Town Reporting to : Specialist Planner Your role at ARC: As Junior Planner, you will assist the Specialist Planner in managing the overall inventory planning function for ARC more specifically with respect to the direct import brands . You role will assist in ensuring that the inventory meets demand and inventory newness is considered and ordered appropriately. You will be expected to contribute to provide a balanced assortment of merchandise to achieve sales budgets, gross profit and gross profit percentage; provide assistance in working towards appropriate stock turn levels and increase overall market share; as well as provide administrative support to the merchandise department through effective order management and reporting, management of quantitative allocation of inventories, as well as balanced stock and product assortment in stores, to achieve business KPIs. You will be responsible for the accurate and timeous placement of all inventory orders related to your brands. You will also be responsible for the administration for all exclusive brands, including the preparation of purchase orders, tracking, liaison with ARCs third-party distribution service providers and LS control of ARC third party held stock. Dependent on work requirements you may be required to assist ARCs other Junior Planner to handle supplier orders, and daily administration and your roles will dovetail for leave and work pressure purposes. Key Responsibilities: Merchandise Management and Support

• Inventory management to ensure that the business mantains inventory at agree benchmark levels. ARCs stock KPI is to ensure that stock availability is maintained above 92% and at above 95% for AA and A ranked SKUs.

ARC expectations are a supplier fill rate of >85%. All levels below this must be investigated, understood and improved by focusing on the KPI with suppliers.

• Assist in coordination, planning and execution of all merchandising activities.
• Assurance and pro-active action to ensure that the D2R inbound distribution is efficient, and that all barriers are carefully investigated and addressed under the supervision, and assistance of the Specialist Planner. To oversee the import Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and address any bottlenecks in a proactive manner.
• Ensure deadlines are met as per the Merchandise Calendar.
• Resolve merchandising problems in a timely fashion.
• Coordinate with cross functional teams to resolve issues related to product information, pricing, and shipping.
• Ordering of products.
• Management of quantitative allocation of inventory, balanced inventory and product assortment in stores.
• Own and manage allocations, as directed by the Specialist Planner
• Support replenishment order management.
• Support implementation of location related tasks.
• Follow-up on promotional merchandise and products, as well as deliveries of products and samples with suppliers.
• Implement merchant processes as defined by relevant merchandising strategy and business requirements.
• Oversee the administration and control of ARC Exclusive brands from supplier to store and including control of this stock on LS and assurance the physical, third party system and LS aligned..
• Ad-hoc projects as required; based on capacity.
• Assist in the preparation and management of IBT and RTV processes.

Market Intelligence and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and complete merchandising reports including inventory reports, order tracking and other such reports.
• Assist in inventory, sales, financial, and competitive intelligence analysis.
• Conduct research on consumer trends, competitive intelligence, and product history.

People Management

• Manage own personal development through your PDP (Personal Development Plan). Request training and feedback on performance and strive to improve based on these interventions.
• Adhere to the companys values.
• Reflect an understanding and a desire to live by the ARC LIPSTICK values.
• Take personal responsibility for all issues facing the department, work as a team and mentor/coach new employees as required.
• Communicate with your line manager regularly and make recommendations on improving efficiencies in the department.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Working with People
• Communication and influence
• Planning and Organising
• Attention to detail
• Process orientation
• Problem solving
• Adapting and responding to change
• Analysing
• Performance focus
• Knowledge and understanding of ERP systems
• Excel (Advanced) and MS Office capability
• Planning technical knowledge
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Interpersonal skills
• Ownership
• Energy and action orientated
• Time management
• Commercial acumen