The Demand Planner will be responsible for the management and development of the demand planning functions, providing the interface between Brands' Marketing, Sales, Finance and Supply Chain ensuring the demand planning process meets the business objectives and needs. The primary responsibility is to assist in the development and facilitation of an integrated Sale, Inventory & Operations Planning process, across the business.
The Demand Planner creates and maintains demand plans for their customers, incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from sales, marketing, finance, retailer replenishment, and other sources (i.e.: Beauty Update, consumer data).
The Demand Planner is the integration point into the commercial organization. This position leads the dialogue each month for their respective internal & external customers and products with key counterparts in the business functions (i.e.: Sales, Marketing and Finance).
Demand Planning
- Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons by market and down to key accounts as part of a demand planning function. (Accountability for short term period 0 - 6 months and provides input for 7 - 27 months).
- Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop an understating of the used 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, and finance to understand demand forecast drivers.
- Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing and Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
- Use and maintain the APO Planning software as the primary forecasting system tool.
- Work closely with the Inventory team ensuring that any gaps to supply vs. demand are accounted for in the demand plan.
- Validate the Demand Plan by reviewing trends in customer "sell to", "sell thru" and stock holdings.
- Maintain product lifecycle (PLC's).
- Review marketing calendar & business category mix with Brands
- Ensure Promotional forecasts are reconciled with promotional budget/Spend, highlighting any concerns with submitted usage plans.
- Generate and review alerts and reports on forecast accuracy.
- Review of New Product demand pre & post launch with brands and regional office, analysing initial demand and cannibalization impacts and customer stock holdings, documenting assumptions.
- Work with regional demand planning in the monthly process.
- Work with regional and global peers to develop understanding of global demand planning initiatives.
- Communicate Stock Reservation requirements to the inventory team.
- SIOP ownership, Preparation and management of the SIOP review meetings.
- Achieve consensus for operational demand forecasts by facilitating a collaborative planning process with sales, marketing and finance personnel:
- Review sales plans, customer finance Budget Updates or Latest Estimates and demand drivers:
- Present, solicit, and assess feedback on the various forecasts from sales, and finance
- Recommend adjustments for operational forecasts
- Prepare relevant material to facilitate research and discussion
- Review and maintain monthly scorecard for demand planning
- Provide input to the Inventory Planning in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs
- Provide input to volume planning ( Latest Estimates / Annual Budget process)
- Maintain demand planning system and software:
- Enter and modify data and ensure the correctness
- Monitor trends in forecast error
- Identify relevant market-related data and competitive intelligence
- Prepare and maintain relevant reports pertaining to demand planning proces
Qualifications
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Solution solving skills
- Solid business intelligence
- High attention to detail and organisational skills
- The ability to work autonomously and contribute to the team
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and time management
- Proactive and positive approach to work and tasks
- Confidentiality, tact and discretion when dealing with people
- Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures
- APICS qualified; Tertiary qualification or equivalent 3+ years of work experience in Supply Chain / Demand Planning
- Strong knowledge of ERP & MRP systems
- SAP/APO (QM & MM Module) experience is a requirement
- Advanced Microsoft Office, in particular Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook
Job: Supply Chain - Corporate
Primary Location: Asia Pacific-AU-NSW-Sydney
Job Type: Standard
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: 1st (Day) Shift
Job Number: 241907