Planner II - Apparel & Beauty

Job Advert Summary

Woolworths, a leading South African brand committed to transformation and excellence, is seeking a talented Planner II based in Cape Town, Western Cape. Join our dynamic Fashion, Beauty, and Home team to define and drive catalogue planning principles.

This role is pivotal in shaping and delivering integrated merchandise planning strategies that drive sales, optimise inventory, and maximise profitability. You will play a key role in balancing quality with speed, leveraging data and technology to enable insight-driven decision-making and commercial success.

Minimum Requirements

Degree or Diploma in Retail, Business, Finance, or a related field Minimum 7 years’ retail planning experience in a merchandise or financial planning role Strong commercial acumen and advanced numerical and analytical skills Proven experience in merchandise financial planning, assortment planning, and inventory management Advanced proficiency in retail systems and planning tools Strong stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration capability

Duties and Responsibilities

Planning & Strategy

• Develop and execute seasonal merchandise financial plans aligned to departmental and Group strategy.
• Prepare and present budgets, OTB strategies, assortment plans, promotional activity, clearance plans, and price architecture.
• Analyse sales performance, customer demand, market trends, and post-season reviews to inform planning decisions.
• Monitor and revise plans throughout the season to ensure delivery of sales, stock, and profitability targets.

Assortment & Range Planning

• Partner with Buying teams to develop balanced assortments that meet customer needs and business objectives.
• Support the development of price architecture and category option plans.
• Review product volumes, newness flow, and assortment execution across channels and store grades.
• Ensure consistent application of assortment frameworks and planning principles.

Inventory Management

• Manage stock commitments, inventory levels, and OTB to optimise stock flow and availability.
• Identify opportunities to improve inventory productivity and achieve KPI targets.
• Provide forecasts and range plans to support sourcing and capacity planning.

Insights & Trading

• Leverage sales, customer, and market insights to drive informed planning decisions.
• Partner with Planning Analysts to review and refine key analytics and forecasting tools.
• Participate in trade meetings, competitor reviews, and store visits to identify opportunities and risks.
• Maintain planning systems and processes in line with the merchandise cycle.
• Conduct seasonal sizing and performance reviews to support future planning.