Landmark Group - Planning Manager - Demand Planning - Home Centre

Planning Manager(Demand Planning)-Home Centre

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

Overseeing the day to day running of the Planning team (Kids/Household/Furniture) and working with heads of other departments to drive the long term strategy of the business and improve the Home Centre customer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Role :

- Oversee the smooth day to day running of the planning department, working to ensure that we have the right amount of quantity, in the right place at the right time.

- Developing and coaching the planning team in order to ensure they understand the fundamentals of the planning function and use these fundamentals to drive the business strategy.

- Work with the heads of the other departments internally such as buying, supply chain, marketing and VM to develop new efficiencies and processes that can help drive the long term strategy of the business.

- Work hand in hand with Concept planning and LMIT to help develop and introduce new system solutions that can improve the efficiency of the planning department in line with the unique requirements of the long term Home Centre strategy

- In line with the territories and concept finance, develop realistic and achievable budgets in line with the overall home centre strategy. Manage these budgets over the season to ensure that financial targets such as sales, profit and margin are achieved.

- Work with buying and supply chain to develop more cost effective and efficient sourcing strategies in the long term.

- In line with supply chain and logistics, manage the smooth flow of stock, ensuring that sales targets are achieved without an unnecessary high stock holding within the supply chain.

- Ensure that availability is maintained on all critical (K) lines across all territories, as identified in the long term buying strategy.

- Determine and agree on high-level Concept Strategic Plan Targets with the CEO and Finance manager in the following areas: Sales, Sales Margin, Stock Holdings, Stock Turn, Promotional events, Price Inflation, New Stores Planned and Merchandise Strategy

- Work with other departments within the business to develop and maintain a business Calendar and ensure discipline and implementation of critical patch deadlines.

Planning (Seasonally):

- Manage, Guide and approve each of the Planning activities below.

- Propose Seasonal Strategies on Sales, Price point, Supplier, Brands, Size, Colour and Assortment Dimensions (Where applicable) at Concept/Territory levels down to Class/Sub-Class levels together with the Buyers

- Prepare and Propose Seasonal Budgets derived and validated on MFP at Concept/Territory levels down to Class/Sub-Class levels based on the approved Strategy to match the Financial targets set for Sales, Opening/Closing Stocks, Inflows, Forward covers and Sales Margins

- Prepare Store Grading at Class/Subclass levels to determine the Width and Depth of Ranges for Large, Medium and Small stores with Order quantities (where applicable) in line with the range frame tool.

- Prepare and share a Theoretical Range Plan with the Buyers to finalise a Buy Plan (Range Plan) by month at Class/Subclass levels to match the Strategy Plans for Quantities, Options, Prices, Suppliers and financial parameters (OTB/Inflows) set by Month.

- Prepare reports to measure actuals against plan for In Season management of all of the above.(where applicable)

- Ensure adherence to Merchandise standards and procedures

- Prepare a Post Seasonal Analysis of past performance at Concept/Territory and Department levels down to Class/Sub-Class and Item levels.

- Discuss and prepare a SWOT analysis of the above and document action plans in preparation for the Strategic Planning Process

In Season Management:

- Monitor Orders being placed against Open to buy targets by month on the Buy Plan ensuring that the Orders are placed on time and according to assortment plans.(Daily/Weekly)

- Weekly forecasting on MFP down to Territory/subclass level in order to identify exceptions to be addressed i.e. over performance/underperformance in sales pattern. Stockholdings, Forward Covers and Inflows and propose actions on out of line situations to the Buyers in a weekly Department meeting with action to be taken by the Planner (where Applicable)

Monitor Good and Bad selling Items to agreed parameters and propose actions to be taken on Reorders or Price Adjustments for Slow sellers.(Weekly)

Store/Competitor Visits:

- Visit Territory/Stores on an agreed frequency to be abreast with Product performance and trends.

- Be in tune with Territory/Store specific requirements with regard to Quantity, Range, Price and Customer base

- Visit Competitors to identify their Range Composition, Options and Prices.

- Report findings and out of line situations to the buyer and formulate an action plan to resolve the same

Systems Maintenance and Enhancement:

- Ensure that there are adequate reports to measure performance to plan for all of the above

- Ensure that planning applications are used and data integrity is sound.

- Ensure that any additional System requirements are communicated to the Central Planning Department Manager

- All planning applications to be utilized effectively

People Management:

- Manage and Support Team Recruitment and development.

- Set responsibility areas for direct reports and conduct performance appraisal

- Review and provide regular feedback on staff's performance against expectations

- Oversee staff development and drive motivation level of the team

JOB SPECIFICATION:

- Post graduate or Graduate

- 7-10 years relevant experience of which at least 4 years should have been in a Planning role in the home retail industry

- Leadership skills ,people development skills

- Experience on known formal planning applications

- Advanced Knowledge of Merchandise planning and analytics

- Advanced Knowledge of Retail Industry and products

- Advanced Knowledge of MS Office

- Planning and organizing skills

- Analytical skills