Assistant Planner Jobs

We are seeking an Assistant Planner for our Durban Head Office to join our dynamic team. The Assistant Merchandise Planner will develop, maintain, analyze, and execute category-level item plans for one or more departments. You will handle store allocations and work closely with the Buyer and Merchandise & Planning Manager to meet strategic goals. This role also involves collaborating with suppliers to share orders, sales data, and item availability. You will manage, train, and oversee the Orders Clerks.

Key Skills Required:

• Strong analytical and financial skills
• High attention to detail
• Inventory management
• Sales planning
• Forecasting
• Expert skills in retail merchandising tools and Microsoft applications like Excel and Outlook
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with all levels in the organization
• Knowledge of replenishment systems
• Ability to interpret numerical data, draw conclusions, and make quick decisions
• Skill in multi-tasking and prioritizing workload
• Highly driven, motivated, and confident when dealing with diverse people
• Imaginative and creative in finding workable solutions
• Responsible for personal development with a desire for autonomy and accountability
• Passionate about retail and eager to advance to Buyer and beyond

Job Responsibilities

Chain Item Planning

• Develop and maintain item sales and inventory plans
• Manage and use the inventory procurement plan effectively
• Create item unit plans using replenishment system software
• Develop weekly inventory plans by chain
• Suggest changes to assortment, markdowns, markups, and promotions based on sales rates and future plans
• Track weekly sales and adjust forecasts for sales, receipts, and markdowns as needed
• Review item plans with Buyers and suppliers to ensure product availability
• Communicate inventory issues for promotions and regular sales
• Work with Buyers to agree on sales forecasts
• Provide promotional sales forecasts to Buyers for ROI and marketing plans

Replenishment / Allocation

• Order and manage inventory to meet Open To Buy (OTB) goals and ensure products arrive at the right place, quantity, and time
• Analyze and decide allocation methods for items (e.g., supplier to DC or direct to store) based on product, store profiles, and rankings
• Handle initial orders for new items, including quantity and timing
• Review, maintain, and execute vendor orders using planning tools to ensure smooth product flow within OTB, weeks of supply, and in-stock targets
• Share orders, sales plans, performance data, and gather item availability info with suppliers
• Keep the supplier/category ordering calendar to optimize goods flow
• Analyze store and DC inventory to maintain proper replenishment; make manual or tool-based adjustments
• Work with stores and marketing to create allocation plans, support key processes, and handle store-specific requests
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations to resolve supply chain and system issues
• Partner with Logistics to prioritize urgent products
• Manage exception reports for accurate store-level allocations

Assortment Planning

• Understand and maintain store profiles for each category with Buyers
• Ensure assortment plans and item eligibility align with replenishment plans
• Suggest store groupings and bin allocations with the team
• Validate minimum inventory for events like end caps and features

Financial Analysis, Pricing / OTB Planning

• Maintain financials, including OTB planning based on procurement plans
• Work with Buyers to manage OTB, identify issues and opportunities, and create optimization strategies
• Develop financial plans with Buyers to meet annual sales and margin goals
• Analyze sales data to find performance drivers and growth opportunities
• Review margin data to achieve budget targets
• Prepare pricing strategies and implement price reductions

SKU/Product/System Management

• Review top and underperforming items to guide buying decisions
• Evaluate SKU counts to focus on best-sellers and optimize the range
• Coordinate with Buying team on system updates like delistings, price changes, product loading, promotions, and supplier details

Marketing/Advertising & Promotions

• Review promotions with Buyers and Marketing team and proof all advertising
• Process catalogue and insert submissions in the system
• Track shipping and local orders for advertised items and prioritize them
• Proof ad copy, photography, pricing, codes, and layout
• Monitor sales of advertised items and report to teams
• Manage marketing ROI templates with deal entries and projections
• Communicate promotion activities to store teams

Leadership/Talent Enhancement & Training

• Update technical and non-technical merchandising skills to meet new challenges
• Train and develop Orders Clerks
• Provide feedback, coaching, and guidance for skill growth

Cross Functional Partnership

• Communicate across departments and teams
• Manage tasks in cross-functional teams and build networks to improve processes; maintain honesty and ethics (e.g., Shipping, Finance, Marketing, Warehouse, Ops, HR, Store Design, Property)

General Responsibilities

• Complete all required training and participate in in-service sessions
• Maintain confidentiality of company information, procedures, policies, data, and assets
• Conduct quarterly appraisals and personal development reviews; continuously improve knowledge and skills
• Stay updated on policies and procedures and follow them
• Adopt new technology and methods as introduced
• Perform other duties as assigned by Buyers, Directors, or senior management
• Prepare module reports
• Generate purchase orders
• Note: This list summarizes typical functions and may not cover all responsibilities. You may be asked to perform other tasks as needed for the business.