Supply Chain Planner at Pick n Pay

A Supply Chain Planner at Pick n Pay plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient flow of products from suppliers to shelves, directly impacting customer satisfaction and business profitability. This position offers a dynamic environment where analytical prowess meets strategic planning, contributing significantly to one of South Africa's leading retail giants. The successful candidate will be instrumental in optimising inventory levels, forecasting demand, and collaborating with various departments to maintain operational excellence within a fast-paced retail landscape. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional eager to apply their quantitative skills to real-world supply chain challenges, driving efficiency and innovation across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Plan Creation & Management

• Create weekly sales plans for assigned categories using module documents and the Standardised T-4 planning process.
• Consolidate all necessary inputs for promotions, cannibalization, events, seasonal/weather/price changes, and plan accordingly.
• Utilise annualization trend reports to compare previous year's sales base with the current year, identifying trade opportunities.
• Employ standardised planning and reporting tools for accurate sales planning and execution.
• Align category forecasts with overall business sales plans and strategy.
• Plan for upcoming promotions by extracting information from the Adnote tool and adhering to T-5 Promotional planning processes.
• Develop sales and execution plans for new article and seasonal launches.
• Account for store-specific nuances such as changing trends, revamps, new stores, and events communicated by the Store Execution Team.
• Adhere to the DILO & Rhythm document as set by line management.
• Incorporate historical forecast accuracy into future planning processes to enhance precision.

Liaison & Collaboration

• Maintain a set weekly rhythm with commercial teams to understand sales strategies and agree on forecast values at T-3.
• Share weekly sales plans with divisional teams and distribute agreed sales forecast numbers at T-2.
• Escalate significant discrepancies between sales targets, commercial sales plans, and retail sales forecasts.

Operational Execution & Monitoring

• Load forecast DIFs in SAP to ensure the system forecast accurately reflects category sales and promotional plans.
• Follow communicated processes and methods to ensure all forecast uploads are accurate.
• Ensure replenishment parameters are correctly set to reflect sales plans and forecasts.
• Regularly revise minimum display rules for optimised settings.
• Ensure in-week forecast profiles are correctly set to accurately reflect in-week sales demand for stores and articles.
• Verify that shelf life is correctly set in SAP for lines linked to assigned categories.
• Ensure replenishment master data fields are correctly set for accurate system execution.
• Utilise available standardised reports and tools for daily execution and monitoring of orders and sales plans.
• Monitor orders daily to ensure trends reflect sales plans and in-week forecast distribution.
• Track sales, waste, working capital, and availability KPIs daily to ensure correct execution of sales plans.
• Monitor sales versus forecast and adjust sales plans accordingly to ensure forecast and replenishment parameters reflect customer demand.
• Address daily and weekly KPI exceptions.

Why Join the Company

Joining Pick n Pay means becoming part of a proudly South African retail leader committed to innovation and customer service. As a Supply Chain Planner, you'll be at the heart of operations, contributing to a system that feeds millions. Pick n Pay fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, offering ample opportunities for career progression within its vast network. The company values analytical thinking, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving, which are key competencies for this role. You'll develop critical skills in data analysis, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration, working alongside experienced professionals. The dynamic retail environment ensures that no two days are the same, providing a stimulating challenge for those with drive and flexibility. Pick n Pay also encourages a positive, willing attitude and strong networking abilities, recognising that these interpersonal skills are as vital as technical expertise in achieving business insights and influencing outcomes.

Application Strategy (Exclusive)

• Highlight Retail/PnP Experience: Explicitly detail any experience in retail supply chain or planning, especially if it's with Pick n Pay or a similar large retailer. Quantify your achievements, e.g., 'Reduced inventory holding by X%,' 'Improved forecast accuracy by Y%.'
• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Dedicate a section to your technical skills, specifically mentioning SQL, Power BI, and Access. Provide examples of how you've used these tools to solve supply chain problems or improve processes.
• Emphasise Analytical & Decision-Making Skills: Use your cover letter to describe a situation where your analytical skills led to a significant business decision or improvement in a planning context. Connect your experience to the listed competencies like 'Analysis,' 'Judgement & Decision Making,' and 'Prioritising Tasks.'

Interview Preparation

Prepare for your interview by considering questions such as:

• "Describe a time you had to adjust a supply chain plan due to unexpected market changes or promotional performance. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you ensure data accuracy and attention to detail in your planning, especially when dealing with large datasets and multiple variables?"

You can practice answering these and other questions using the Xhosadev Interview Simulator.

How to Apply

Please apply using the Quick Apply button on this page.

• BCom Logistics/Degree in Quantitative Analytics/Operational Research/Industrial Engineering/Applied Mathematics (RPL)
• Proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language), Power BI, and Access is advantageous.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in Retail, Supply Chain or Planning, and/or at least 1 year of PnP-specific experience.