Senior Demand Planning Specialist

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).