Supply Planner

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
SUPPLY PLANNER Location: Bellville, Cape Town Department: Product -- Planning and Procurement Reports to: Planning and Procurement Manager Indirect Reporting Line: Director of Product Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08h00--17h00 Overview Our client is seeking an analytical, detail-driven and proactive Supply Planner to join its Product team at its head office in Bellville, Cape Town. This opportunity is suited to someone with a solid foundation in supply planning, procurement or inventory management who is ready to take ownership of the end-to-end supply cycle within a dynamic, fast-moving FMCG environment. The Supply Planner forms part of the Planning and Procurement team within the Product Department, which develops and delivers relevant, high-quality and commercially competitive products and promotions that enable its customers to build successful, profitable and dignified businesses. The purpose of the role is to plan, coordinate and manage the full supply cycle across the product portfolio, ensuring the right stock is available in the right place at the right time. This involves translating approved demand forecasts into production, replenishment and procurement requirements while balancing inventory targets, warehouse capacity, supplier performance, lead times and commercial constraints. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining product availability, optimising inventory levels, mitigating supply risks and ensuring the business can respond effectively to changing demand, promotional activity and new product launches. Duties and Responsibilities Supply Planning and Inventory Management Use approved demand forecasts as the basis for supply, replenishment and procurement planning, identifying and escalating material forecast variances to the Demand Planner. Maintain optimal target inventory levels in line with safety stock policies, demand patterns and supplier lead times. Translate demand plans into replenishment triggers, production requirements and procurement schedules. Validate ERP replenishment signals and review and maintain Min/Max stock levels monthly in collaboration with the Demand Planner. Monitor stock availability, stock movements and inventory levels across locations, maintaining accurate daily stock-on-hand reporting. Review high-risk SKUs daily and proactively escalate potential stockouts and supply disruptions. Identify opportunities to reduce excess, ageing and slow-moving inventory while protecting product availability. Procurement and Supplier Management Translate demand forecasts into raw material, packaging and component requirements. Plan and place weekly, monthly and bulk purchase orders in line with supply requirements, minimum order quantities and supplier constraints. Maintain accurate supplier lead-time information and provide suppliers with appropriate forward forecasts. Track open purchase orders, inbound shipments, expected arrival dates and supplier delivery performance. Proactively follow up on late, delayed or at-risk orders, including international imports, and escalate issues requiring intervention. Build effective working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support reliable supply and timely resolution of issues. Promotions and New Product Launches Assess supply readiness for promotions, campaigns and new product launches, ensuring stock and components are available within required timelines. Place and monitor promotion-related purchase orders and coordinate outsourced promotional requirements. Manage supplier coordination, logistics and timelines associated with promotional activity. Identify potential supply constraints ahead of launches and promotions and communicate risks and mitigation plans to relevant stakeholders. Risk Management and Scenario Planning Identify, analyse and escalate risks relating to supply availability, supplier performance, imports, production capacity and inventory. Conduct monthly supply scenario planning with the Demand Planner to assess changes in demand, lead times and supply constraints. Review back-order exposure, coordinate recovery plans and monitor progress against agreed actions. Monitor warehouse capacity, inbound shipment peaks and production constraints to support effective supply decisions. Recommend practical mitigation strategies to minimise disruption and protect service levels. Reporting, Systems and Master Data Maintain planning dashboards and performance indicators, including fill rate, forecast accuracy, OTIF (On Time In Full), ADU (Average Daily Usage) and Min/Max levels. Maintain accurate back-order logs, weekly SKU-level snapshots and daily supply alerts for relevant teams. Maintain supply planning master data in the ERP system, including SKUs, Bills of Materials (BOMs), lead times and Min/Max stock levels. Ensure BOMs, product codes and related planning data remain accurate, consistent and aligned across systems. Prepare inputs for Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), supply and demand review packs, and category updates. Support Finance with supply planning information, inventory inputs for budgeting and stock valuation. Maintain planning Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensure documentation is accurate, controlled and audit-ready. Role Requirements Essential Qualifications National Senior Certificate (Matric / Grade 12). Relevant degree or diploma in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement or a related discipline. Preferred Qualifications APICS or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification would be advantageous. Essential Skills and Knowledge Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with strong analytical and data interpretation capabilities. Sound understanding of supply chain planning principles, including minimum order quantities (MOQ), safety stock, supplier lead times, average daily usage (ADU) and replenishment logic. Ability to translate demand forecasts into accurate supply, procurement and production requirements. Practical knowledge of inventory management, replenishment planning and procurement processes. Ability to plan for promotional activity, new product launches and component availability. Experience or demonstrated capability in scenario modelling, supply risk assessment and contingency planning. Strong supplier management, communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and align supply priorities with business requirements. High levels of accuracy, attention to detail and organisational ability. Strong follow-through, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to identifying and resolving supply challenges. Preferred Experience Two to three years of experience in supply planning, procurement or a closely related supply chain role. Experience within FMCG, manufacturing or a procurement-intensive environment would be advantageous. Exposure to ERP systems, ideally Odoo, and business intelligence or planning dashboards. Experience tracking purchase orders, supplier performance, stock availability and inventory KPIs. Exposure to S&OP processes, promotional planning or new product launches would be beneficial. Mobility Requirements Willingness and ability to travel as and when required. Valid driver's licence and reliable means of transport. Key Competencies Analytical Thinking: Interprets supply, demand and inventory data to identify trends, discrepancies and potential risks. Managing Complexity: Coordinates multiple SKUs, suppliers, lead times and competing business requirements effectively. Strategic Thinking: Understands the broader commercial impact of supply decisions and balances product availability with inventory efficiency. Quality Orientated: Maintains accurate planning data, reports and system information, ensuring high standards of work. Focus and Follow Through: Takes ownership of tasks, follows up on outstanding orders and ensures actions are completed. Teamwork: Collaborates effectively with Demand Planning, Procurement, Product, Finance, suppliers and other relevant teams. Building Relationships: Establishes constructive working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers. Digital Mindset: Uses ERP systems, Excel and reporting tools to improve planning accuracy, visibility and efficiency. Work Conditions Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08h00--17h00. Remote Standby / After-Hours Support: Required as and when business needs dictate. Travel: Occasional travel as required by the role. The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment where proactive communication, accurate planning and timely decision-making are essential to maintaining supply continuity.