Associate Planner - Inventory

Job Description

Job PurposeThe Associate Planner (Inventory) works in partnership with the Merchandise Planning, Buying, Commercial and Digital teams, and in close collaboration with the Warehouse and Store teams to ensure replenishment-in-stock standards are achieved, merchandise assortments are well-edited and optimal inventory levels are maintained to drive profitable sales. This will involve using a data-driven approach to determine optimal Quantity (value) and monitor Quality (Current/Continuity vs Ageing) of Inventory across their portfolio and continually seek to satisfy consumer demand by making the right merchandise/ products available at the right places, times, and quantities to drive profit. This level has initial brand/category ownership.Strategic Roles and Responsibilities* Effectively work in tandem with Merchandise Planning as a critical partner to drive sales, margin and optimize inventory while identifying opportunity and mitigating risk relating to purchases and inventory management.* Develop and implement best industry practice replenishment and allocation policies, processes and standards to achieve optimal inventory turn and maximize business opportunities.* Drive effective inventory turn through optimal replenishment and allocations across both channels of retail and digital to support merchandise strategy and plans, and promotional and advertising or promotional campaigns in line with sale and profitability targets.* Act as the Replenishment and Allocations Systems Owner and Subject-Matter Expert, ensuring to meet the needs of the organization.* Partner with Buying, Commercial and Digital business partners cross functionally, to support the sales strategy with appropriate inventory plans.* Effectively use data-driven input from historical trends, customer analytics, market conditions and supplier demands to impact profitable decision making.* Establish collaborative relationships with the Merchandise Planning, Buying, Commercial, Digital teams and Vendor partners, to maintain seamless processes needed for effective product planning, procurement, replenishment and sell-through across the portfolio.Functional Roles and Responsibilities Functional Leadership* Develop management skills to lead the inventory planning teams.* Drive inventory optimization through maximized replenishment and allocations planning and execution.* Execute quality stock allocation/replenishment plans taking into account key KPI?s, trend, customer behaviour, and omni-channel landscape and brand strategies.* Build and deliver accurate inventory planning projections with measurable forecast accuracy; including in stock/out of stock/WOS related to inventory quantity and aged inventory sell through and liquidation as part of inventory quality.* Update monthly OTB Sales reforecasts from merchandise planning with revised inventory and purchase plans required to support.* Execute the development and implementation of Replenishment & Allocations systems, liaising between merchandising teams, Retail IT, Vendors (systems) and Logistics partners.* Review replenishment item setup on the system and monitor replenishment performance.* Identify opportunities to leverage Replenishment & Allocation systems and tools to improve merchandise planners workflow and improve efficiency by presenting ideas to Planner/Senior Planner.* Recommend and execute inventory re-balancing opportunities as necessary.* Create and review regular in stock reporting for key and advertised items. Determine actions to correct in-stock issues in a timely and effective manner by presenting to Planner/Senior Planner.* Support the Senior Planner/DPM (Inventory) on Portfolio Summaries and business analysis.

Keyskills :