AI Planner - ANKO Global

Brighter futures start here

Anko Sourcing is the direct sourcing arm for the iconic Australian retail brands, Kmart and Target. As a team of highly experienced retail sourcing professionals, we strive to bring globally compelling, low-cost, on-trend products to our customers in Australia and New Zealand.

We follow the highest standards to source ethically and operate with a clear focus on the welfare of our planet and our people. Anko Sourcing operations span the largest sourcing markets across Asia, including China, Hong Kong, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Why Anko Global?

Anko is a vibrant home and lifestyle brand on a mission to make everyday living brighter for families around the world. Since launching internationally, Anko Global has expanded across Asia, Europe and North America and continues to build momentum through both wholesale and retail partnerships.

Joining Anko Global means becoming part of a highly collaborative team where you'll work alongside experienced retail, planning, sourcing, finance and technology leaders to solve complex challenges, influence strategic decisions, and help shape the future of global retail planning.

You'll have the opportunity to contribute to innovative initiatives, work across diverse markets and partnerships, and play a key role in building planning capabilities that will support Anko's next phase of growth.

Shape the future of retail planning on a global stage

An exciting opportunity has become available for an experienced large scale Merchandise Planner with innovation and growth with AI to join the growing Anko Global team.

This is a unique role that combines the commercial mindset of a Merchandise Planner with the analytical capability of a modern data-driven professional. Working at the intersection of Planning, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology and external partners, you'll help design and embed the next generation of planning capabilities that support Anko's continued global expansion.

As part of our Central Planning & Inventory function, you'll work alongside experienced global retail leaders to shape how planning decisions are made across multiple markets. You'll have the opportunity to influence the future operating model of merchandise planning, leveraging advanced analytics and AI-enabled tools to drive smarter inventory decisions, improve forecast accuracy and unlock scalable growth.

This is a rare opportunity to help build something new, work across international markets, and play a meaningful role in the evolution of one of retail's most exciting growth stories

What you'll be doing

As an AI Planner, you will support the Anko Global Central Planning team in the design, development and execution of AI-enabled planning capabilities while delivering strong commercial outcomes through effective sales, inventory and margin planning.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing seasonal, in-season and long-range sales, inventory and margin plans
• Managing Open-to-Buy (OTB) and inventory investment frameworks
• Monitoring category and market performance to identify opportunities, risks and areas for growth
• Supporting inventory optimisation and improving forecast accuracy through data-driven decision making
• Partnering across Planning, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, external partners and local market teams to deliver commercially relevant insights and outcomes
• Supporting the evaluation and definition of data requirements that underpin future planning capabilities
• Contributing to the development and adoption of AI-enabled planning processes and tools
• Helping translate advanced analytics into practical actions that improve inventory productivity, sales performance and customer outcomes

Help build the future planning operating model for Anko Global

A unique aspect of this role is the opportunity to contribute to the development of Anko Global's future planning operating model.

Working closely with business and technology stakeholders, you will support the evolution of AI-enabled planning capabilities across forecasting, pricing, markdown, allocation and inventory optimisation. You will help ensure that advanced analytics and AI become embedded within everyday planning activities while maintaining a strong commercial lens and focus on customer outcomes.

This role is ideal for someone who is excited by innovation, motivated by solving complex commercial problems, and energised by the opportunity to help shape how retail planning evolves in the years ahead.

To be successful in this role, you'll have

We're looking for a commercially minded planning or analytics professional who is equally comfortable working with inventory and financial metrics as they are with data, technology and continuous improvement.

You'll bring:

• 5+ years' experience in merchandise planning, operations planning, commercial analytics or a related field
• Proven experience managing forecasts, inventory and financial planning metrics
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of retail performance drivers
• Experience translating data and analytics into business decisions and commercial outcomes
• A collaborative approach and the ability to influence across diverse stakeholder groups
• Exposure to AI, machine learning, predictive analytics or optimisation tools
• Experience working with analytical platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python or similar tools
• A growth mindset, curiosity and enthusiasm for innovation and continuous improvement
• Experience within international, multi-market or multi-channel retail environments will be highly regarded

Benefits we’ll offer you:

• Flexible hybrid working options through our Flex Where, Flex When, Flex Well policy.  
• A team member discount card that gives you a discount at Kmart, Target, Officeworks and Bunnings 
• Access to the Brighter Benefits program which entitles you to exclusive discounts and benefits in the areas of entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health – with over 60 suppliers!  
• We want you to feel rewarded for your commitment and hard work that's why eligible team members get the opportunity to participate in a bonus program 
• We offer inclusive parental leave, and ongoing support offered through our partnership with Circle In for team members of all backgrounds and family circumstances  
• A dynamic learning and support program 
• Opportunity to fast track your career through our Mentor Program as a Mentee or Mentor 
• A Kudos recognition program, where you are nominated by your peers to spin a wheel, to win a stack of cool prizes 
• Great career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group 

We celebrate the rich diversity of the communities in which we operate. We are committed to creating inclusive and safe environments where all our team members can contribute and succeed. We believe that all team members should feel valued, respected and safe, and strive to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and welcoming, with applications encouraged from all candidates.

We encourage you to tell us about any workplace adjustments that you would like, by emailing kmartgroupcareers@kmart.com.au.

If you would like to explore a career with Kmart and this sounds like the perfect role for you – apply now!

#LI-Hybrid