Stock Optimisation Lead

Stock Optimisation Lead

Reports To: TBC

Team: Planning & Space

Location: Reading/Dublin Head Office

Job-Type: Full Time - Permanent

Purpose of the Role:

• The Stock Optimisation Lead will lead with Customer-First as the north star to develop and implement inventory optimisation strategies for the Primark regions
• The output is achieving the right garment with the right price in the right location at the right time, which in turn will maximise sales and profit
• This role will keep total overview, forecast and prioritisation of stock flow to our different depots and stores based on current demand / supply patterns.
• The Stock Optimisation Lead will work closely, both strategically and operationally, with Retail, Merchandising and Supply Chain team to enable a fast, flexible and effective supply chain today and in future.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Based on current demand/supply patterns, re-steer stock to constantly optimise availability and costs:

• Stock flow and capability strategies to optimise sales.
• Operate in regional moves decisions with Heads of Merchandising and Supply Chain
• Set the region oversupply strategies and identify ongoing and upcoming issues together with Heads of Merchandising/Merchandisers and take appropriate actions.
• Understand customer behaviour impact on demand and supply actions accordingly

Keep total overview, forecast, and prioritisation of stock based on selling trends & commercial actions to secure logistic capacity in the best way:

• Set and follow up way of working for short/mid-term demand and stock forecasting
• Keep full overview of regional demand and stock flow forecasting and set priorities based on total business results
• Set clear strategies for prioritisation of stock transfers together with relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to forecast long term stock transfers at depot level.

Bring findings from each region to supply chain and roll out ways of working for initiatives in region:

• Constantly explore and implement how to improve the stock management within the regions with Supply Chain.
• Roll out way of working of new initiatives in regions, in collaboration with Supply Chain.

Responsible for collating information for retail operational support that include system & pricing queries and co-ordinating with Stock Optimisers and Merchandising resolutions to Commercial Managers.

Core Line replenishment parameters - understand and execute strategies to ensure core lines have optimised stock levels.

Collaboration

• Build relationships with key stakeholders to identify commercial opportunities
• Deliver and own accurate business information and direction to peers and senior teams and influence as required
• Work with teams across the business to gather required numerical data.
• Positively challenge colleagues and inform and influence decision making

Leadership

• Lead, manage, mentor and coach a team to deliver analytics driven results and high-quality outputs
• Set ambitious but realistic timeframes for delivery for self and the team
• Set clear performance expectations for the team, monitor and managing performance
• Provide feedback to the team in a timely and motivating way, encouraging colleagues to stretch and give their best, while recognising successes
• Develop the team’s capability, spotting talent and identifying stretch opportunities whilst encouraging team to drive their own development.

Key Interactions
The Stock Optimisation Lead will work collaboratively across all areas of the Planning & Space function and feed their expertise and insights into the wider business strategy. The Stock Optimiser Manager will also be required to partner closely and collaborate with various other functions and roles including the Commercial Managers and Support teams, all Merchandising teams up to Head of level and Supply Chain.

• This role will also be required to communicate data driven insights fluently to various audiences across the business and influence senior stakeholders, up to Director level.
• The Stock Optimisation Lead will have a team of 3 Stock Optimisers reporting into them.
• Skills & Experience:

• Essential:
• 2/3 Years Management Experience required
• Background within Branch Merchandising, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Logistics, Store Operations.
• Experience of using Microsoft Packages, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent planning and organisation skills, ability to multi-task, plan and prioritise work schedule for self and team and work within agreed timescales.
• Excellent attention to detail and an ability to analyse and interrogate high volumes of data as well as demonstrating an ability to focus on the higher-level overview.
• Ability to articulate innovative and creative ideas.
• Strong communication and organisational skills are a must, with the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships & networks and be results-focused.
• Highly collaborative, comfortabl