Planning Manager Supply Chain at Sasol

Purpose of Job

• The purpose of the role is to manage the LCCT Planning team competence, to ensure that the Planning services offered continuously meet stakeholder expectations, by applying the right people, processes and technology in order to align service and process targets to best practice. The LCCT Planning Manager is responsible for the team strategic planning and alignment with the business in order to enhance profitability by maximising cost efficiencies within the operation.

Key Accountabilities
People/Staff Management

• Monitoring, measuring and reporting on the team performance to the LCCT Manager.
• Manage a team of Demand Co-Ordinators and Senior Schedulers led by Team Leads.
• Identify learning opportunities for the team; and plan and organise training that will improve skills and knowledge of the subordinates.
• Develop a productive and rewarding work environment that aims to motivate employees to execute their work with excellence.
• Devise and implement employee equality transformation strategies.
• Ensure the planning function is appropriately staffed for redundancy and management of the careers of employees.

Internal Business Process Management

• Manage processes and resources effectively to execute prioritised strategies.
• Ensure that processes and practices are implemented to build capability and excellence.
• Manage continuity between the different shifts by ensuring efficient and effective handover and transfer of responsibilities between shift teams.
• Continuously optimise Planning operation excellence, through process analysis and identification of improvement opportunities.
• Take full ownership of the Transport Planning. This includes ensuring accurate set up of the relevant systems supporting the Order Management and Optimise Order functions.
• Ensure the identification and implementation of best practices in Transportation Planning methods within the department.

Financials

• Drive departmental ROI and financial targets.
• Understand the transport budget parameters and measure the key KPI's/ levers to ensure that operational costs remain within the set budget.
• Forecasts annual capital and operational expenses in line with corporate guidelines and marketing strategy.
• Investigate methods to reduce / contain departmental costs and compare own costs against industrial benchmarks.

Business Planning

• Influence and contribute to the development of a business strategy for the division.
• Translate divisional strategy into departmental strategy and ensure the effective implementation of strategies for areas of responsibility.
• Develop and align functional strategy to overall business strategy.
• Operational Management
• Oversee departmental operational functionalities and control resource planning activities.
• Develop and manage multiple service level, quality and performance targets.
• Manage SLA's of outsourced service providers.

Data Integrity

• Ensure data integrity as well as liaise with enablement on master data integrity.
• Planning Support
• Manage Planning initiatives to meet business objectives.
• Initiates proposals for Planning offerings.
• Participate in inter-departmental Planning projects/meetings.

Project Management

• Initiate and submit project proposals for approval as per EPMS.
• Direct Planning project initiatives and plans.

Strategic Leadership

• Anticipate stakeholder needs based on a strong understanding of the Planning stakeholders, industry and marketplace.
• Generate innovative departmental ideas which are strategically sound and progressive in conjunction with divisional strategic planning.
• Willingness to take reasonable risks and to consider new and untested approaches.
• Direct the team to provide exceptional service to the stakeholders by responding with a sense of urgency, practicality, accountability, integrity and respect.
• Develop a long-term relationship with key stakeholders and communicate regularly with stakeholders on a variety of business topics.

Formal Education

• Degree in BA or B.Com Logistics, Transport Management or any other related field

Minimum Experience

• Minimum of 9 years Planning and Operation Improvement experience of which 5 years should be managerial.
• Previous route planning experience (Lomosoft APS experience will be advantageous) .
• Analytical experience (strong MS Excel skills)