L'Oréal SA_ Supply Chain Planner

Job Title: Supply Chain Planner

Location: Johannesburg (Woodmead), South Africa

Department: Operations & Supply Chain

Job Purpose

The Supply Chain Planner is responsible for end-to-end demand and supply planning, balancing inventory levels with market demand to ensure optimal product availability while minimizing holding costs and waste. This role plays a critical part in driving operational excellence and supporting sales growth within the South African market.

Key Responsibilities

• Demand & Supply Planning: Generate accurate rolling forecasts by analyzing historical sales trends, market insights, and promotional plans in collaboration with Sales and Marketing.
• Inventory Management: Monitor stock cover, manage replenishment parameters, and optimize inventory levels to prevent stockouts while mitigating obsolescence and write-offs.
• S&OP Participation: Actively participate in the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycle, aligning supply plans with commercial targets and financial budgets.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with customer service, warehousing, logistics, and regional supply hubs to ensure seamless order fulfillment and on-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery.
• Performance Tracking: Track and report key supply chain KPIs (e.g., forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory days) and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field.
• Experience: 2 to 4 years of professional experience in supply chain planning (demand/supply) within the FMCG, retail, or cosmetics sector.
• Technical Skills: Strong analytical capabilities, advanced Microsoft Excel skills, and hands-on experience with ERP systems (such as SAP).
• Competencies: Excellent stakeholder management, strong problem-solving skills, high attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Communication:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex data and insights clearly to diverse audiences.
• South African Market Knowledge: Understanding of the South African market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and logistics landscape is a plus.

Desired Attributes (What Makes You a Great Fit):

• Ambition: You possess a strong drive to exceed expectations, continuously seek opportunities for process improvement, and are eager to take on new challenges to elevate your impact within the business.
• Resilience: You thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, capable of navigating uncertainties and setbacks with a constructive and adaptive mindset. You learn from challenges and quickly adjust your approach.
• Empathy: You actively listen to and understand the needs of our internal stakeholders (Sales, Marketing) and ultimately, our salon partners. You strive to ensure our planning supports their success and enhances customer satisfaction.
• Judgment: You demonstrate sound decision-making abilities, even with incomplete information, utilizing data and critical thinking to evaluate options and mitigate risks effectively.
• Learning Agility: You are naturally curious and proactive in acquiring new knowledge and skills, adapting quickly to new technologies, market changes, and evolving business needs. You see every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
• Collaboration: A team player who builds strong relationships and works effectively across functions to achieve shared goals.
• Proactiveness: Takes initiative, anticipates issues, and proposes solutions before problems escalate.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition or disability. We adhere to all local Labour Relations legislation.