Team Lead SC Planner

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

A core function of the Team Lead Supply Chain Planner is to understand the strategic objectives of the business, drive the implementation of an operating plan for the relevant planning team. The Lead Planner is responsible to manage and guide operational planning teams and ensure the use of standardized processes, tools and reports required to perform planning responsibilities and reach availability, sales, waste, working capital, margin, and profitability KPIs. The Lead Planner must also ensure effective integration and communication with all cross-functional teams and external stakeholders and drive their teams to contribute to and execute sales strategies and trade plans.

Minimum requirements

BCOM Logistics / Degree in Quantitative Analytics / Operational Research / Industrial Engineering / Applied Mathematics (RPL)
3 + years Retail, Supply Chain or Planning Experience with at least 1 - 2 years PnP-specific experience
SQL (Structured Query Language), Power BI and Access advantageous

Competencies

Analysis
Conceptual Thinking
Judgement & Decision Making
Drive
Flexibility
Networking & Liaison
Organisational Awareness
Influencing
Verbal & Written Communication
Business Insights
Environmental Scanning
Monitoring

Strategic Sales Plan

Ensure compliance to T- planning processes (incl. promo/event planning)
Provide guidance to teams on how to generate sales plans for each specific category
Work with commercial buyers to achieve planning budgets and targets
Attend meetings with commercial teams to agree forecast values at T-3
Prepare figures for divisional sales planning meetings, sales forecast numbers at T-2
Escalate significant differences between sales targets, commercial sales plan, and the retail sales forecast to Planning Manager
Track total category planning numbers and highlight risks (Forecast, Retail Forecast, Orders, Receipts, Sales)
Strategic Operational Execution

Provide guidance and strategic input to planners on how to execute sales plans for each specific sub-category
Ensure the use of standardised planning and reporting tools for accurate sales planning and execution
Ensure teams know when to influence forecast and that they are using the correct tools to accurately do so
Track total category KPI performance, highlight risks and identify and drive the implementation of opportunities within team
Ensure all planners use the correct tools and reports to understand root cause on poor KPI performance and implement solutions that will proactively reduce/avoid returns.

Category Profitability

Provide input on promo & pricing strategies based on category performance and annualization
Provide input on range based on sales, waste, and profitability
Track and ensure Planners achieve KPI’s
Support maximized deal price purchases by ordering more stock for promo lines during the deal price period. Only for lines where applicable
Identify opportunities to increase category profitability by using a profit levers tool or something similar
Support Vendor Growth Hurdles and strategic Buy-ins (Category Profitability) by executing the plan provided by the planning line manager
Understand the elements that contribute to improved category GP and work with commercial teams to achieve set targets
Work with commercial and store teams to plan for the effective ordering and execution of service counter/in-store departments
Work with commercial and logistics teams to implement ways of work that will drive increased franchisee buy-in participation

Stakeholder Engagement

Build & maintain good working relationship with all stakeholders
Internal Stakeholders:

Collaborate with required internal stakeholders to create accurate and realistic sales plans that reflect business, category and promotional strategies
Follow the commercial integration rhythm as set by your line manager
Communicate sales plans to the SCP DC volume management team to ensure accurate DC volume planning and execution
Work closely with the technical team to ensure the accurate maintenance of shelf life in SAP. Ensure all quality related issues are incorporated into sales plans
Communicate with the SET on store specific issues and accompany them on store visits - 1 per quarter
Work with New Product Development teams to ensure the timeous execution of new product launches
External Stakeholders:

Share promotional forecast with vendors as set out in the T-4 promo planning process
Work with vendors and commercial to understand the root cause of poor strike rate and work on solutions to proactively avoid strike rate issues
Liaise with vendors following a formalized Vendor Collaboration process. Act as vendor champion as and when required
Team Leadership and People Development

Create clear direction, guidance, and support for Planners to execute required responsibilities
Identify training gaps/opportunities through observation of Planner performance and/or consultation with teams
Contribute to a positive, constructive working environment
Share insights with teams on improved ways of work and utilisation of reports, tools, and processes
Ensure effective (clear and concise) communication within and between cross-functional teams and stakeholders
Calm self and others during stressful times and keep a positive attitude
Maintain positive working relationships with team members by building trust and treating them with respect
Take ownership and accountability for tasks and activities and demonstrate effective self-management
Contribute to an encouraging and motivating working environment
Adhere to Pick n Pay values

Value Chain Costs

Have a good understanding of value chain cost and income components and the role planning plays to influence these levers
Ensure order patterns of assigned categories conform to the required in-week order distribution set for each DC
Identify and escalate inefficient pack sizes
Implement mixed lugs as and when required
Provide input in vendor-specific projects & improvements that contribute to value chain efficiencies
Execute vendor collaboration and efficiency plans as set out by the planning manager
Execute operational plans communicated by line manager to maximize DC Margin
Assist with the centralization of vendors into PnP DCs

Closing Date: 20 November 2026

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

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