Demand & Merchandise Inventory Planner, Philatelic

**Help us deliver for Australia.**

Australia Post is delivering for Australia. From the vehicles that we drive, to the small businesses that make our communities thrive. We’re delivering for the environment, for our communities, for our customers and for our people. We’re moving forward and we want you to come along for the ride.

**About the opportunity**

This unique role at Australia Post** **plays a crucial role within the Supply Chain and Inventory business unit. This position holds responsibility for overseeing the entire inventory management process for the Philatelic and General Postage categories.

The primary objectives include driving sales, optimising inventory, and enhancing capital outcomes through effective product lifecycle management, all while ensuring consistent service levels.

The role places a significant emphasis on managing inventory holding and carrying costs, as well as unit level planning. Special attention is given to maintaining stock levels in distribution centres to support corporate, online, and licensed networks, along with overseeing in-stock levels in over 700 corporate outlets. Utilising grading and segmentation techniques, the planner aims to achieve efficient inventory levels while ensuring a high rate of in-stock products. The role extensively utilizes SAP allocations and replenishment systems, in addition to employing a Merchandise Planning Tool for Category spend planning.

The position is inherently cross-functional, necessitating robust engagement with various stakeholders across the organisation. Overall, the Demand & Merchandise Inventory Planner role is pivotal in orchestrating a synchronised and efficient inventory management system to drive sales and optimise resources effectively.

**You'll be responsible for**:

- Providing a forecast unit inventory plan based on a demand forecast to support efficiency in the supply chain
- Managing Warehouse stock levels
- Store grading and ranging
- Supporting allocations and replenishment strategies for the relevant categories
- Product lifecycle management
- Inventory modelling and demand forecasting
- Sales, Margin and Inventory budgeting and forecasting using Merchandise Planning and ERP Software
- Support and develop category reporting and analysis for the planning & category management function
- Provide direct support to Australia Post product category teams and other internal/external stakeholders regarding all aspects of purchasing, inwards deliveries, supplier compliance/quality, inventory management, lifecycle management, returns and associated reporting requirements.
- Merchandise & Inventory planning for high value / high complexity / high rate of change products with strong stakeholder communication requirements.
- Day to day management of warehouse and store in stocks whilst driving effective use of working capital.
- Provide Demand & Inventory Planning and reporting, provide unit inventory plans across the 12-month period.
- Support development of effective allocations and replenishment strategies
- Ensuring continual stock availability of all relevant products for corporate and licensed networks including via the online store.
- Regular communication with key stakeholders on all matters related to the merchandise planning function across the organisation.

**About you**

You are an experienced professional with an inventory, merchandising, production, warehouse or FMCG background. You will have knowledge and understanding of retail inventory management functions, processes, and systems. Proven experience in stakeholder engagement as well as communicating with, influencing, and advising key external suppliers to achieve desired outcomes.

**What are we looking for?**
- Min 5 years relevant production planning or merchandise planning experience in a multi category environment.
- Demonstrated experience sales, margin and inventory budgeting and forecasting in a retailer.
- Demonstrated experience planning to support a retail promotional program.
- Broad understanding of the supply chain process.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
- Working closely with the operational network to achieve desired outcomes for stores.
- Experience in managing a broad stakeholder group.

**We’re delivering together.**

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**One last thing