ABOUT US

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivaled service, and reassuringly good value.
We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading, joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket ocado.com. Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, but it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same-day grocery delivery service.

ABOUT THE TEAM AND THE ROLE

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for the optimisation of stock levels for their department on Ocado.com. They will have full accountability for the stock holding, availability and warehouse space utilisation across a specified set of categories and suppliers.
The Merchandise Planner, with support from the MPM, works closely with the Buying Manager & Buying Assistant for the relevant POD to ensure sales weighted availability is maintained at optimal levels to drive sales, meet KPI’s and boost warehouse efficiencies.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Forecasting Stock and Business Trading – macro (category/supplier) and micro (SKU) level forecasting across a defined product area.

• Long term stock projections for new season launches working in line with the financial KPIs, OTB budgets, promotional plans and planned visibility
• Daily validation & placing of system generated weekly purchase orders with complete focus on maintaining high standards of sales-weighted availability
• Working with the product buying team to maximise sales and achieve KPI’s cash sales, basket, margin, sales-weighted availability, stock holding and aged stock
• Prepare & present reporting on KPIs for weekly trade meetings complete with proactive recommendations on actions to be taken
• Managing availability and stock levels throughout the season, identifying and handling gaps between forecasts and trading actuals
• Using reporting tools to analyse and understand performance and opportunities. Analysing past sales figures & trends to anticipate future product performance
• Ensuring the space within our warehouses is utilised in a profitable manner and that adequate space is available for planned inbound volumes throughout the season

Managing stock clearance and sell-through activity – SKU level management of the exit stock.

• Recommending lines that should be discontinued based on average ROS performance, aged stock and supplier MOQ’s
• Maintaining Aged stock levels to the minimum, by highlighting slow sellers in time so stock is not written off
• Managing clearance promotions to ensure exit lines are sold through promptly with focus on department level margin targets

Managing Supplier Performance – Work with new and established suppliers to ensure that the supply relationship is nurtured from the start of direct supply through to an effective working relationship. Regularly review supplier performance in terms of delivery and shortages.

• Conducting supplier service level reviews
• Planning new line launches & working with suppliers to ensure that happens in line with critical path timelines
• Establishing regular communication channels with suppliers, not just when there are issues
• Holding regular supplier meetings; not just on a “need to” basis to develop relationships with our key and problematic suppliers
• Producing medium to long term forecasts for suppliers
• Comply with GSCOP and Competition Law while dealing with suppliers

Data Management – Product and supplier relevant data to be input and maintained using Ocado’s custom-built systems.

• Maintaining SKU forecast data in Utopia
• Create and maintain supplier schedules
• MOQ sign off and product availability updates for new lines and existing SKUs
• Admin tasks like raising delist and updating ATP categories to effectively manage ATP