Dis-Chem Pharmacies has an opportunity available for a Category Planner to join the Head Office team in Midrand. The main purpose of this role will be to optimize product assortments across diverse store clusters by developing a well-balanced product mix that aligns with customer demand, regional preferences, and market trends to deliver improved customer satisfaction and optimised profit in our store clusters. Ensures the right products are available at the right locations, enhancing sales performance, inventory efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction.

 

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Grade 12 / Matric 
• Degree in Retail Management/Business Management/Consumer Science/Business Analytics
• Minimum 2 – 5 years’ experience in Assortment/ Range Planning/Merchandising/Procurement and
  experience in Analytics within a retail environment 

Job Specification…
Assortment Planning & Product Lifestyle Management:

• Use clusters to develop localized assortment plans.
• Develop and maintain assortment plans that align with seasonal trends, regional preferences, and consumer behaviour.
• Implement category strategies to support the overall business objectives.
• Maintain appropriate assortment sizes and continuously refine the product mix.
• Conduct impact assessments on range reviews, validating outcomes using KPIs, financial metrics, and performance targets.
• Collaborate with buyers to identify growth opportunities and integrate emerging consumer trends intothe assortment strategy.

Cluster Planning & Optimization:

• Develop cluster plans for each category to guide assortment planning.
• Analyse cluster plans and profile each cluster, clearly defining its characteristics.
• Execute segmentation criteria, including customer demographics, regional trends, consumer spending
  patterns, and store sizes.
• Conduct bi-annual reviews of clusters and refine them based on evolving consumer behaviour and
  market trends.
• Collaborate closely with category managers, regional managers, and buyers to optimize cluster
  performance.
• Identify underperforming clusters or outlier stores and adjust groupings accordingly.

Space Planning:

• Develop and maintain detailed planograms using space planning tools to optimize product placement and merchandising effectiveness.
• Design planograms that accurately reflect predetermined product assortment, adhering to brand guidelines and merchandising principles.
• Leverage automation within the Space Planning system to generate variations tailored to different assortments, store sizes, and fixture configurations.
• Optimize forward share to drive key performance indicators KPIs) and achieve financial goals.
• Analyse space planning reports, including forward share distribution, shelf space utilization, and overall category performance, to inform strategic adjustments.3Collaborate with Buyers to align planograms with product assortments and broader category strategies.
• Effectively communicate planograms to stores teams and monitor compliance with execution guidelines.
• Conduct store visits to assess implementation, gather feedback, and continuously refine planogram strategies for improved in-store execution.

Collaboration, Reporting & Market Insights:

• Collaborate with the buying team to implement strategic objectives, maximize sales, and optimize inventory allocation.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct reporting and data analysis to support decision-making, assess assortment implementation, and identify growth opportunities.
• Provide insights on market trends, retail performance, and competitor activities to drive strategic improvements.

Competencies...

Essential:

• Knowledge of category management applications
• Proficiency in Assortment Planning Tools (SAP) and Business Intelligence tools
• Ability to use Business Intelligence (BI) tools such as Power BI, for data visualization and reporting
• Ability to align assortment plans in conjunction with the Buyers targets
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Quality orientation
• Self-management skills 

Special Conditions of Employment...

• South African citizen
• MIE, clear criminal and credit
• Driver’s license and/or own reliable transport

Remuneration and Benefits...

• Market related salary
• Medical aid
• Provident fund
• Staff account

 

ONLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF YOU HAVEN`T BEEN CONTACTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem’s approved Employment Equity Plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.