Replenishment Planner at takealot.com , Cape Town

📊 Strategic Replenishment Planner (Cape Town)

Takealot.com, a leading and innovative South African online retailer, is searching for a highly talented Replenishment Planner to join our dynamic team in Cape Town.

About Takealot.com

We are a young, hyper-growth company looking for smart, creative, and hard-working individuals who are ready for a significant challenge and motivated to build something extraordinary. We offer competitive, market-related benefits, an exceptional work environment, and a promise that you’ll be constantly engaged and never bored.

We seek a professional with a deep passion for data, planning, forecasting, and supply chain optimization. The successful candidate must demonstrate an expert balance between exceptional analytical skills (understanding the relevance of data for effective decision-making) and the ability to interpret analysis output to solve real-world business problems.

The position reports directly to the Head of Planning.

Key Responsibilities

The Replenishment Planner will be instrumental in managing inventory and driving supply chain efficiency. Key duties include:

• Demand Forecasting & Management: Generate, maintain, and distribute accurate forecasts for replenishment items, incorporating seasonal trends and promotional plans for the respective portfolio.
• Inventory Optimization: Effectively manage stock levels in line with model stock requirements by implementing accurate min/max levels, safety stock, relevant ADU horizons, and related demand signals.
• Availability Assurance: Ensure product availability across all locations through the effective use of Just-In-Time (JIT) ordering, managing Minimum Order Values (MOV’s), and overseeing SIB’Ts (Stock Inter-Branch Transfers).
• Performance Analysis: Conduct root-cause analysis on stock-outs and overstocking events, driving corrective actions in collaboration with the supply chain and commercial teams.
• Supplier Performance: Report on and review key supplier metrics, including lead times, fill rates, and order accuracy, and implement targeted action plans for continuous improvement.
• System Management: Manage and maintain planning parameters in the ERP or planning systems, including updating supplier lead times and adjusting replenishment frequencies based on performance data.
• Constraint Management: Proactively manage internal and external supply chain constraints, such as Distribution Center (DC) capacity and delivery schedules.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives to enhance replenishment efficiency, increase planning accuracy, and strengthen supplier collaboration.
• Benchmarking: Measure and report on replenishment KPIs against industry standards and internal targets (e.g., fill rate, inventory turnover, stock availability).

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Education: BCom / BTech / NDip in a Commercial, Engineering, or similar relevant field.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in Supply Chain, analytics, or planning within relevant industries.
• Technical Skills: High level of proficiency with MS Office packages, with proven advanced proficiency in Excel being essential.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with inventory planning concepts such as ABC/XYZ classification, service level planning, and demand variability analysis.
• Advantageous Experience: Experience in the retail industry is beneficial, and experience with ERP systems or planning software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Blue Yonder, Netstock) is highly advantageous.

Desired Attributes

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Commercial Acumen: The ability to make strategic trade-offs that balance cost, service, and inventory levels.
• Collaboration: Strong collaboration and influencing skills to effectively work cross-functionally with buying, merchandising, warehousing, and external suppliers.
• Resilience: Resilience and adaptability in managing shifting priorities in a high-SKU, fast-turn environment.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and statistical thinking, with a solid grasp of planning algorithms, demand variability, and supply constraints.

The Extraordinary Mind We Seek

We are looking for an Extraordinary Mind who is:

• Action-Oriented: An expert at doing, capable of both design and execution.
• Data-Driven: Analytical, able to leverage data to drive and inform strategic decisions.
• Visionary: Passionate about the potential of e-commerce and committed to delivering a world-class customer experience.
• Entrepreneurial: Thrives on change, constantly seeks innovative solutions, and thinks like an owner of the business.
• SMART, possesses INTEGRITY, and is HARDWORKING.

If you meet these requirements, you are an Extraordinary Mind—come and join us!

Takealot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities will be given preference.