Demand Planning Manager: Grains at Tiger Brands

Job Description
THE JOB AT A GLANCE:

• Responsible for development of a 24 months rolling unconstrained, unbiased Demand Plan across categories with opportunities & vulnerabilities / risks regularly revised in order to reflect the best estimate of future customer demand. The role is also responsible for facilitating demand review process across all categories. Also manage and build capability of a team of demand planners. Responsible for continuous improvement in demand planning, standardizing the process and adoption of the demand planning tools.

Responsibilities

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Analyze sales trends and validate promotional uplifts; integration of sales and marketing uplifts and other demand drivers into overall demand; Support to S&M to achieve target volumes.
• Obtain and assess event volumes from Sales & Marketing for the planning horizon and update volumes in case of any changes from S&M
• Maintain and manage  the database of sales & marketing assumptions. Drive cost effectiveness and supplier innovation across the organization ensuring business requirements are met, economies of scale are maximized and financial risks are managed
• Discuss new product launch volumes and discontinued items and share the information with supply team to enable readiness of supply team
• Lead Category Demand Review:  Compile Category Demand Review pack by calculating and analyzing the variations between actual demand, target, previous demand plan and monitoring
• Lead Customer Demand Review:  Compile pre-customer DR package by calculating and analyzing the variations between actual demand, target, previous demand plan and monitoring
• Accountable for developing baseline demand forecasts after evaluation of forecast Error & Bias at an appropriate level. Also responsible for maintaining internal and external baseline drivers.
• Overall lead development including evaluation / revision of approach adopted for demand forecasting.
• Generate and validate base demand plan using statistical forecasting techniques for rolling 12 weeks + 21 months period.
• Overall responsible for end to end demand planning including collaboration with S&M for demand inputs, monitoring activity against demand forecast and revise forecast, reviewing current Supply Capacities and Constraints along with future Supply Capabilities.
• Determine and Agree to Demand and Supply Side Actions to Match Future Demand as well as demand and supply gaps.
• Achieve consensus unconstrained demand planning by SKU/ Category and review the same with supply side to identify potential demand and supply gaps.
• Review Demand Plan vs Target  at category level and update unconstrained demand plan after DR in the system.

Qualifications
ESSENTIAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Key Professional Competencies

• Core knowledge – Strategic sourcing, Commodity trading, Operational procurement, Procurement systems, Supplier relationship management, Supply Chain collaboration

Key foundational competencies

• Academic – Analytical Skills, Commercial Acumen, Problem solving, Decision making, Degree / Diploma in Industrial Engineering
• Leadership – Collaboration, Conflict management, business partnering, Accountability and responsibility, planning and organizing, Result focussed
• Personal Effectiveness – Effective communication, Interpersonal skills, Integrity, Creativity, Continuous learning

Experience

• Function – 5+ experience in planning, Experience in sales and marketing desirable
• Industry – Experience in FMCG industry desirable