Inventory/Demand Planner (Retails, Sports etc)
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. The estimated monthly salary is R37,000 – R64,750 ZAR. This role is suited for mid-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
Job Title:Inventory/Demand Planner
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm PST
Salary Range: 2,000-3,500 USD/month depending on experience
About the company:The brand that makes fun toys like paddle boards, skateboards and bikes, is now adding electric bikes to the mix.
About the Role:
This position requires strong analytical thinking, forecasting skills, and the ability to coordinate closely with overseas manufacturers and internal teams.
Core Responsibilities
* Forecast product demand across multiple seasonal product categories
Forecast product demand across multiple seasonal product categories
* Plan inventory levels and manage replenishment strategies
Plan inventory levels and manage replenishment strategies
* Create and manage purchase orders with overseas manufacturers
Create and manage purchase orders with overseas manufacturers
* Track purchase orders and ensure on-time delivery
Track purchase orders and ensure on-time delivery
* Coordinate with factories, vendors, and internal stakeholders
Coordinate with factories, vendors, and internal stakeholders
* Maintain accurate item master data in the ERP (lead times, batch sizes, safety stock levels)
Maintain accurate item master data in the ERP (lead times, batch sizes, safety stock levels)
* Monitor inventory levels and proactively prevent stockouts or overstock
Monitor inventory levels and proactively prevent stockouts or overstock
* Generate internal reports on purchasing, demand, and inventory performance
Generate internal reports on purchasing, demand, and inventory performance
Required Experience
Consumer Goods Planning Experience
The company sells across several seasonal product categories such as snow gear, water sports, cycling, and skating, each with different demand curves and sales channels.
Ideal candidates should have planning experience inconsumer goods industries, such as:
* Sporting goods
Sporting goods
* Automotive products
Automotive products
* Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
* Fashion / apparel
Fashion / apparel
* Furniture
Furniture
Experience inconsumables (food, beverage, commodities)isnot preferred, as the planning dynamics differ significantly.
Long Lead-Time Purchasing Experience
The role requires experience purchasing manufactured products sourced internationally withlong and variable lead times.
Candidates should have experience with:
* Managinginternational purchase orders
Managinginternational purchase orders
* Container-level purchasing and planning
Container-level purchasing and planning
* Creatingprocurement plans months in advance
Creatingprocurement plans months in advance
* Safety stock calculationsfor long lead-time supply chains
Safety stock calculationsfor long lead-time supply chains
* Coordinating with overseas manufacturers to ensure products are delivered on schedule and to specification
Coordinating with overseas manufacturers to ensure products are delivered on schedule and to specification
* Maintaining accurateERP item master dataincluding lead times, batch sizes, and safety stock levels
Maintaining accurateERP item master dataincluding lead times, batch sizes, and safety stock levels
Import & Overseas Manufacturing Experience
Candidates should have strong familiarity with international logistics and sourcing.
Preferred experience includes:
* UnderstandingIncoterms
UnderstandingIncoterms
* FCL / LCL ocean freight
FCL / LCL ocean freight
* Shipment consolidation
Shipment consolidation
* Working withoverseas contract manufacturers
Working withoverseas contract manufacturers
* At least2+ years of import / international sourcing experience
At least2+ years of import / international sourcing experience
Hard Skills Required
* Inventory planning and supply chain experience
Inventory planning and supply chain experience
* Demand forecasting and data analysis
Demand forecasting and data analysis
* Vendor and manufacturer communication
Vendor and manufacturer communication
* ERP or inventory management systems
ERP or inventory management systems
* Strong Excel skills and systems thinking
Strong Excel skills and systems thinking
Soft Skills Required
* Detail-oriented and highly organized
Detail-oriented and highly organized
* Strong analytical thinker
Strong analytical thinker
* Proactive communicator with vendors and internal teams
Proactive communicator with vendors and internal teams
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
At R37,000/month, this role is competitive with the average South African remote salary. The USD equivalent ($2,000/mo) benefits from the favourable exchange rate.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 614 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →