Head of Central Planning & Inventory (Anko Global)

Brighter Futures Start Here

We are an inclusive team who power two of the most iconic and loved brands, Kmart and Target. We have more than 50,000 passionate individuals across our stores, distribution centres, and offices around the globe.

With our brands touching the lives of almost two million customers every week, you’ll feel the impact of the work you’ll do every day. As a leader in the retail market, we’re optimistic about our future and yours. We’re changing at a rapid rate, giving you challenging work that you’ll be proud o

Purpose of the role

The Head of Central Planning & Inventory plays a critical leadership role in shaping how Anko Global plans, forecasts, and manages inventory across fast‑growing international markets. This role is accountable for building and leading scalable planning systems, processes, and operating frameworks that enable confident trading decisions, optimise stock outcomes, and support sustainable growth as the business expands globally.

Working at the intersection of merchandise planning, inventory, category, technology, and data, this role ensures Anko Global has robust, data‑driven planning capabilities that drive availability, margin optimisation, and inventory productivity.

What you will deliver:

In this role, you will be expected to:

• Lead enterprise-wide merchandise planning capability
  Own the design, integration, and ongoing evolution of central planning and inventory systems, ensuring they support end‑to‑end merchandise lifecycle planning, forecasting, allocation, replenishment, and pricing.
• Build scalable planning frameworks and operating models
  Establish consistent planning rhythms, governance, and decision frameworks across seasonal, in‑season, and event‑based cycles, enabling accuracy and discipline across multiple markets and categories.
• Enable strong commercial outcomes
  Partner closely with Merchandise, Category, Supply Chain, Finance, and Country teams to translate trading strategies into system‑enabled plans that drive sales, margin, forecast accuracy, and healthy stock positions.
• Lead system transformation and change delivery
  Drive cross‑functional planning and inventory transformation initiatives, including prioritisation of system enhancements, user adoption, training, and benefits realisation.
• Strengthen data integrity and insight
  Ensure the quality and integrity of planning master data, forecasting inputs, and reporting, embedding strong analytics and performance insights to support better decision‑making.
• Develop high‑performing teams and capability
  Lead and develop a specialist team, while uplifting planning and system capability across the broader business through coaching, governance, and continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring:

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• 10–15 years’ experience in retail merchandise planning, inventory management, or related commercial roles.
• Strong experience working with planning, forecasting, or retail ERP systems in complex environments.
• Exposure to multi‑country, fast‑growth, or transformation‑led retail businesses.
• Demonstrated experience leading change, system implementations, or operating model uplift.

Technical & Functional Expertise

• Deep understanding of merchandise financial planning, forecasting, allocation, range planning, and lifecycle management.
• Strong analytical capability, with confidence working with data, planning tools, and advanced Excel.
• Proven ability to translate commercial strategy into system and process requirements.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with technology, data, and supply chain teams.

Leadership & Ways of Working

• Strong stakeholder leadership skills, with the ability to influence across functions and geographies.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast‑paced environments.
• A collaborative, commercially minded leader who balances strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Passion for building scalable systems, improving planning discipline, and developing people capability

We are excited to have conversations with anyone who feels this could be the right next step in their career, so even if you don’t tick all the boxes listed above, we’d still love for you to apply!

A place you can belong

At Anko we celebrate the rich diversity of the communities in which we operate and 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 irrespective of your gender, ethnicity, indigeneity, religious beliefs, education, age, disability, family responsibilities, sexual orientation and gender identity and we encourage applications from all candidates.

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

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 Kmart for You 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 though 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!

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