Demand Planner - Goodwood at Oxford University Press Southern Africa

Principal Accountabilities:

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts for local and import materials for the African businesses. 
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results. 
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions. 
• Interact with sales, marketing, editorial, and finance teams to understand demand forecast drivers, and build in requirements from the different market segments.
• Use and maintain the relevant demand planning software tools to refine outputs and increase forecast accuracy, product availability, and reduce bias.
• Work closely with the Inventory and Manufacturing team so the demand plan can be used to develop inventory and manufacturing strategies on materials in all stages of their product lifecycle.
•  Achieve core key performance targets and scorecard metrics including forecast bias and forecast accuracy, investigating, and resolving discrepancies in the measures.
• Regularly review segmentation and hierarchy of products to ensure they are being planned and reported at the appropriate level.
• Schedule and run the monthly Demand Review Meetings as part of the full S&OP process.
• Continually seek to improve forecasting systems and methodologies, becoming a subject matter expert on demand planning within the business responsible for creating and maintaining SOPs.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• Relevant working experience in demand planning or forecasting role or preferred sector experience will include publishing, retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.
• Degree level in business, supply chain or other relevant fields.
• Able to demonstrate proficiency in statistical analysis, forecasting and forecasting methodologies.
• Experience working cross functionally to deliver results.
• Detailed working knowledge and experience of the most up to date Sales & Operations Planning methodologies, including statistical modelling.
• Detailed working knowledge of demand planning software, with recent knowledge of SAP.
• Strong IT system capabilities particularly Microsoft Excel skills.

Attributes:

• Demonstrate strong analytical skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Report and present data at an aggregated level
• Strong interpersonal skills are essential
• Strong communicator
• Demonstrate ability to deal with ambiguity and remain calm under pressure