We are seeking an experienced Demand Planning Manager to join our team The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining accurate demand forecasts across multiple countries, ensuring alignment with sales, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in demand planning, with the ability to analyze market trends, manage inventory levels, and contribute to the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
Key Responsibilities:
Forecasting:
- Develop and maintain an accurate demand forecast by analyzing historical sales data, market trends, promotional activities, and customer inputs.
- Ensure the baseline forecast is consistently updated and refined to reflect current market conditions and business objectives.
Collaborative Planning:
- Collaborate with sales, marketing, finance, and key customers to gather input for demand forecasts.
- Adjust demand plans based on feedback and market intelligence, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy.
Inventory Management:
- Monitor inventory visibility throughout the supply chain to ensure optimal inventory levels are maintained.
- Manage SLOB (Slow Moving and Obsolete) inventory, working to minimize excess and obsolete stock.
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP):
- Lead the S&OP process for each country, aligning demand forecasts with supply capabilities, financial plans, and business strategy.
- Facilitate cross-functional meetings to drive consensus on demand plans and address any discrepancies.
Risk Management:
- Identify potential demand risks, including market changes and economic shifts, and develop contingency plans to mitigate these risks.
- Proactively adjust demand forecasts to account for identified risks and opportunities.
Reporting:
- Provide regular reports to senior management on demand forecast accuracy, variances, and trends.
- Develop and maintain dashboards by country to track key performance indicators related to demand planning and inventory management.
Key Deliverables:
- Accurate Demand Forecasts: Maintain a rolling forecast extending 12-18 months, with a freeze period of M+1. Update the forecast monthly or as necessary to reflect the latest market intelligence and business priorities.
- Demand Plans: Develop consensus demand forecasts that align with business objectives and translate into clear, actionable demand plans.
- S&OP Contributions: Provide critical inputs for the S&OP process, including accurate forecast data and identified demand risks.
- Performance Reports: Deliver regularly updated reports on forecast accuracy, demand trends, and inventory levels, supported by country-specific dashboards.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
- 4-7 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, and inventory management, preferably in the FMCG sector.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and trends.
- Experience leading or significantly contributing to the S&OP process.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.
- Proficiency in demand planning software and advanced Excel skills.
- Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on risk management and contingency planning.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in the beverage industry.
- Familiarity with SLOB inventory management.
- Certification in Supply Chain or Demand Planning (e.g., APICS, CPIM, or similar).
