Demand Planner at AkzoNobel

Job Purpose

• The role of the Demand Planner/ Analyst is to manage the forecasting process through the gathering and critiquing of data, to ensure customer requirements are accurately reflected in the forecast so that the correct business decisions are made:

 Analytics (35%)

• Technical: Gather and interrogate data points to predict future demand requirements
• Fundamental: Overlay external factors base on knowledge
• Feed the forecast into the relevant systems 
• Track targets for MAD / BIAS & variance through Lags -4 to 0

 Insight to Action (35%)

• Support the Customer Demand Manager with the Demand Step in IBP
• Provide a long term view for the Demand Review over a 4 to 36 month time horizon
• Deliver actionable insight to inform the Demand Control process over 0 to 3 months

 Ways of Working (30%)

• Drive effective and accurate forecasting with Sales (internal) 
• Develop the Team’s accurate forecasting via collaboration with Customers (external)
• Involve cross functional expertise to improve accuracy (e.g. Category)
• Embrace CI principles through the ALPS tools (e.g. MDI)

 
Key Accountabilities

• Produce accurate and detailed forecasts in order to contribute to IBP process
• Accurately reflect customer plans across key metrics (e.g. Volume, GIV & PPL)
• Challenge & manage the assumptions used in the sales forecast in order to inform the correct business decisions and gain learnings to improve future performance
• Monitor performance to forecast and lead discussions to tackle the issues as they arise
• Understand the impact of changes in the forecast on the wider business and keep Marketing/Finance and Supply chain informed of any changes
• Manage, analyse and take learnings from abnormal customer demands to inform decision making with the Demand Control process, whilst striving to meet Customer service requirements
• Gain Customer expertise and liaise directly with customers to understand their future business plans and activities

Experience

• University Degree
• Relevant experience in constructing and maintaining forecasts
• Previous exposure to Supply Chain management.
• Sales experience desirable
• Process driven to deliver incremental business efficiencies
• System capability, e.g. Infor, SAP, APO, Cognos, Contributor & BI.
• Advanced Excel knowledge required
• Numerate, analytical and results oriented
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, internally & externally