Senior Demand and Supply Planner at Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd

• A leading pet food manufacturing company with a strong focus on the companion animal industry is seeking a Senior Demand and Supply Planner to align demand forecasts with production capacity, raw material and packaging availability, and inventory strategy. This position ensures high customer service levels, optimal inventory management, and adherence to cost and working capital targets through close collaboration with Sales, Procurement, Operations, and Finance teams.

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a demand planning, supply planning, or material planning role within a manufacturing environment (proven track record in planning non-negotiable)
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (Syspro experience is highly advantageous; exposure to similar systems such as SAP or Barnton is also beneficial)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (non-negotiable), including data analysis, pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, macros, and forecasting models
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment
• Must have a valid driver's license and be willing to travel when required

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Developing, refining, and maintaining rolling 18–24-month demand forecasts using historical sales data, promotional activities, customer trends, industry insights, and new product introductions for pet food products.
• Facilitating and leading monthly demand review meetings with cross-functional teams (Sales, Operations, Procurement, Finance) to achieve consensus on forecasts, identify resource/capacity gaps, and align on forward requirements.
• Collaborating closely with the Sales team to enhance forecasting accuracy for new product development, tracking performance, and improving customer promotion planning processes.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to reduce forecast bias, enhance customer service levels, and minimize inventory risks (e.g., overstock, stockouts, aged stock).
• Maintaining and updating the material planning tool based on sales forecasts to guide procurement decisions for raw materials (e.g., proteins, ingredients) and packaging, ensuring alignment with production schedules.
• Coordinating with Production, Procurement, and Buying teams to secure material availability, prevent supply disruptions, and support optimal inventory levels while meeting working capital targets.
• Leading the initiative to automate long-term material planning processes within Syspro to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Developing and coordinating weekly production schedules with the Plant Manager in line with agreed demand forecasts, while monitoring stock levels across distribution channels to ensure timely replenishment.
• Conducting root cause analysis on inventory variances (overages, underages, excess, aged stock) and implementing corrective actions with relevant stakeholders.
• Running daily operational alignment meetings with Sales, Production, Dispatch, and Operations teams to ensure execution of plans, addressing issues promptly, and maintaining smooth daily operations.