INVENTORY PLANNING MANAGER Johannesburg

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The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the correct inventory is available at the correct time, in the correct quantities, while balancing customer service requirements, lead times, warehouse capacity, and inventory investment. This role is critical in supporting contractual service level agreements, minimising stock-outs, reducing expedited freight costs, and improving overall supply chain efficiency. This is a strategic role requiring strong commercial understanding, advanced inventory planning capability, and close collaboration with sales, procurement, finance, and warehouse operations.

Inventory Planning & Replenishment

Develop and maintain minimum, maximum and safety stock levels. Analyse historical consumption trends and forecast future demand. Establish reorder points and replenishment parameters. Ensure optimal inventory levels are maintained to support customer demand and contractual obligations. Monitor stock availability and proactively prevent stock-outs. Identify excess, obsolete and slow-moving inventory and recommend corrective actions. Drive continuous improvement in inventory turnover and working capital utilisation.

Supply Chain & Supplier Management

Maintain and continuously review supplier lead times. Develop replenishment plans based on demand forecasts and supplier performance. Coordinate international procurement requirements with procurement teams and suppliers. Consolidate orders and shipments where practical to reduce freight costs. Minimise emergency airfreight and expediting costs while maintaining required service levels. Monitor supplier performance, on-time delivery and order fulfilment.

Contract & Strategic Stock Management

Ensure strategic inventory requirements are maintained for key customer contracts. Support contractual stock holding requirements and agreed service levels. Develop inventory strategies to support long-lead imported products. Evaluate future project requirements and anticipated demand.

Warehouse Optimisation

Review warehouse capacity and shelving requirements. Optimise bin locations, stock placement and warehouse utilisation. Work closely with warehouse/operations personnel to improve inventory accuracy and accessibility. Assist in maintaining effective inventory control procedures and cycle count programmes.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Develop and maintain inventory dashboards and KPI reporting. Monitor inventory turnover, stock availability, stock-outs, supplier performance, obsolete inventory and inventory value. Prepare reports and recommendations for management regarding inventory optimisation and working capital improvements. Use data analytics to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Liaise closely with Sales, Commercial, Finance, Warehouse and Branch Operations. Build strong relationships with international suppliers and freight forwarders. Ensure all departments are aligned regarding inventory priorities and supply risks.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor''s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering or a related field. Minimum 7 years'' experience in inventory planning, supply chain management or materials planning. Minimum 3 years'' experience in a senior inventory planning or supply chain role. Experience within engineering, industrial distribution, mining, petrochemical, manufacturing, OEM or technical supply environments. Strong understanding of inventory optimisation principles, forecasting, safety stock calculations and lead time management. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills. ERP experience is essential. Experience with Power BI, inventory analytics tools or business intelligence software will be advantageous.

Preferred Qualifications

APICS / ASCM CPIM certification. SAPICS certification. CIPS qualification. Industrial Engineering degree. Experience with imported products and international supply chains.

Key Competencies

Analytical thinking. Commercial awareness. Strong planning and organisational skills. High attention to detail. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Problem solving ability. Ability to work under pressure. Strong stakeholder management. Proactive and results driven.

Inventory availability. Inventory turnover. Reduction in stock-outs. Reduction in emergency freight costs. Forecast accuracy. Obsolete inventory reduction. Supplier on-time delivery performance. Working capital optimisation. Warehouse space utilisation. Inventory accuracy.