The main goal of the Demand Planning Manager is to provide an accurate demand plan that can be used to plan all the Supply & Production Planning activities efficiently, and serve as key inputs to financial planning when preparing the Rolling Estimate. Most importantly improve the forecast accuracy which will drive supply chain cost reductions; have one consensus plan that drives sales, supply chain and finance, reduce workload for Sales; they only need to review and enrich the demand plan instead of building it, improve promotion planning and phase in/phase out processes. The position is responsible for facilitating GM S&OP meeting and responsible for Annual Business Planning, Long Range Planning and Scenario planning to determine the (Base, Optimistic and Pessimistic detailed volume splits across regions, sub demand area and CPL by skus. He leads the sales analyst and reporting team for prompt daily sales reporting and analysis to guide business decision.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Demand Review Meeting with drive to understanding the RIF coming from CMs/RDPs to decide the unconstrained demand releases
- Drive RE scenario planning based on clean historical statistical data, anticipating uplift from trade/consumer activities and impactors both internal and external factors to suggest 3 scenarios (Base, Optimistic and Pessimistic volume forecast for Sales Director business decision before supply and finance review
- Facilitate both Consensus and S&OP review and release forecast based on the aligned RE for the month signed off by GM
- Drive Forecast accuracy improvement and ensure demand variability reduce overall costs, inventories and maximize revenues.
- Building capability across Regional Demand Planner team with focus on improving weekly forecasting, TAM and leading effective weekly Regional S&OP Meeting
- Ensure the accuracy and on time delivery of Sales reports
- Be responsible and accountable of the achievement of selected:
- Demand Planning related KBIs
- Sales Reporting KBIs
- Excellence 2020 related KBIs for Nigeria (FA, DIFOTAI & TAM)
- Develop capability and processes in Demand Planning and Sales Reporting
- Focus on talent development in the Demand Planning unit and support direct report IDP and career progression.
- Play active role in RE and ABP processes
- Support group initiatives in Statistical Forecasting, ICSC and IBP S&OP projects and / or meeting forum
- Lead weekly S&OP processes in Head Office
- Build relationships with Supply and Financial planners;
- Collaborate with marketing team on ensuring NPD, GAME plans, RGM initiatives; delisting, downsizing and upsizing plans are incorporated in the planning processes
- Consensus Planning and alignment with supply team
- Forecast trackers to improve forecast accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Cycle 0 & 1 testing for proper volume phasing and new materials creations with current RGM initiatives
- Participate in any corporate social responsibilities for young graduates’ development
Qualifications & Experience
- University or HND plus MBA in ideally business-related Economics, Statistics, Computer Science and Business Administration etc.
- Strong analytical skills which will allow the generation of strong recommendations
- Proven ability of results orientation and performance
- Demonstrated leadership with the ability to harness resources and teams to deliver results within pre-determined timeframes.
- Ability to judge what works and does not work with regards to different commercial initiatives
- Previous experience (min 4-5 years) in Planning, Commercial Excellence & Field sales management or Sales Administrations
- Strong ability to form effective working partnerships with in cross functions in Nigeria and Group
- Analytical skills – Ability to deliver comprehensive business results through planning and tracking
- Picking the Right Metrics for the Right Audience
- Fighting for a Single Set of Numbers – always driving “One Number Principle”
- Stakeholder management – strong interpersonal and communication skills to influence and implement changes at a senior level within the commercial function.
- People & skills development
- Mentoring and coaching
- Influencing
- IT literate with effective skills, good understanding of Commercial processes in SAP and other platforms.
- Strong ability to form effective working partnerships with functions, across functions and with external organizations in order to deliver results.
- Relationship building – Ability to use and communicate data to deliver compelling selling propositions
- Experience of presenting to Senior Management teams
- Ability to demonstrate development of new tools and processes
- Strong levels of determination and initiative which will drive innovative thinking and growth.
This role is being recruited for at the Careers in Africa London Summit in July. Applicants will be required to attend the Summit.