Category Planning Manager - Melbourne

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Introduction:
Our mission is to make fresh fruits and vegetables a more loved and essential part of everyone's life.

Perfection Fresh is one of Australia’s largest privately owned fresh produce companies that’s been on an exciting journey of innovation and growth since 1978.
We’re an Australian-based business that grows, packs, and markets fresh produce both domestically and internationally. You’ll recognize our produce – Qukes®, Broccolini®, Calypso® mangoes, and more.

Our history 45-year history is one of continuous progress. We’re the market leader in our field and we’ve been listed on the Australian Financial Review’s top 100 private companies in Australia.
We employ more than 2,000 people across a portfolio of farming sites, high-tech production facilities, research, corporate offices, and national logistics operations.

Learn more about us and discover other exciting opportunities at www.perfection.com.au.

Drive smarter forecasting and planning for our flagship mango category — synchronising national supply and demand. We are looking for a commercially minded Category Planning Manager to lead national planning activity, optimise distribution centre capacity, and help ensure customers receive the right product, at the right time, in the right condition.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who enjoys working at the centre of sales, operations, growers, logistics and customer demand. You will use strong analytical insight, clear communication and practical planning discipline to support full, on-time supply while minimising disruption, waste and cost across the network.

Description:
As Category Planning Manager, you will be responsible for developing and managing short, medium and long-term supply plans that balance customer demand, grower supply, product quality, distribution centre capacity and commercial outcomes.

You will provide clear national capacity modelling, guide product movement decisions, support category sales planning and ensure supply chain activity is aligned, responsive and efficient.

Key Responsibilities

Lead sales and demand planning functions for the category, minimising supply chain disruptions and ensuring continuity of supply

Maintain delivery performance to customers at or above 99% DIFOT (Delivered In Full, On Time), regularly monitoring and reporting performance across all locations and banners

Provide accurate, timely supply chain data to support minimal waste and seamless product flow — including clarity on logistics, packaging, ripening, and stock-on-hand requirements

Plan and prioritise product movements by balancing product cost, freight, production cost, quality, and supply constraints in all decision-making

Manage stock on hand across the supply group to ensure effective rotation, throughput, and adherence to product specifications

Skills and Experiences:
Essential Requirements

Proven experience in a category planning, demand planning, or supply chain role, ideally within the fresh produce, distribution, or logistics sector

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels

Advanced consultation and negotiation capabilities, with a track record of influencing outcomes across teams and suppliers

Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable planning decisions

Proficient in Microsoft Office, with hands-on experience using stock and order management systems

Demonstrated leadership experience, with the ability to manage and motivate a team to deliver results

Working knowledge of export protocols and compliance requirements

Ability to build and sustain strong professional relationships with internal teams, growers, and customers