Demand Planning Manager at Mars

Job Purpose:

The Demand planning Manager will be supporting the SSA Demand Leader in developing robust forecast for part of the SSA Markets. He/she is responsible for building and managing short term and long term demand forecast for key Markets & Channels with low levels of complexity and volatility whilst delivering strong forecast accuracy and demand control. Working closely with Sales, Distributors, Marketing, and Supply, this role is accountable for ensuring high levels of Customer service, optimised stock levels, and delivery of products on time, in full whilst minimising waste.The position analyses forecast performance and works with the Sales team to drive initiatives that will enable the business to efficiently deliver on customer demand, drive efficiency in the supply chain and optimum on shelf availability.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Create an accurate both short and long term demand forecast
• Collaborate with sales teams to generate baseline and promotional forecasts with high accuracy across relevant categories.
• Collaborate with Customer and Consumer marketing, Category Business Unit and Channel development teams to generate forecast assumptions for NPI, Media investment, Shopper activations, competitor activity etc.
• Utilize operational reviews, supply chain trends and sales achievements to proactively gain insights, identify issues and propose improvements solutions.
• Collaborate with Supply to ensure the agreed demand plan translates into production requirements and the product is delivered on time, in full to meet customer needs.
• Analyses forecast performance and leverages supply chain-modeling techniques to develop tactical and operational accurate demand forecasts.
• Coordinate cross functional teams to deliver sales gap closing opportunities as required
• Collaborate with key stakeholders internally to navigate Customer challenges and provide solutions as required to maximize on shelf availability.
• Manage and influence customers to drive business performance and pro-actively report on key KPI’s ensuring delivery of key customer service targets whilst driving efficiency in the supply chain.
• Prepare Demand Forecasting inputs into the key Core demand cycles meetings

Education & Professional Qualification

Educated degree level or equivalent in engineering/ economics/Finance

Certificate of Demand planning/supply chain expertise from IBF/Apics – preference

Knowledge/Experience

• Customer Management and analytical experience within a FMCG environment with a demonstrated ability to act with the customer and company in mind.
• Fluent English Language Skills (verbal and written)
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
• player
• Good numeracy and analytical skills and experience of applying a wide range of analytics that drive insights and actions for complex customers and a variety of business situations. 
• Experience in problem solving, with the ability to use processes/ tools/ systems to unlock knowledge and generate insights and develop solutions for a wide range of customers and issues.
• Experience of building relationships in a cross functional environment.
• Experience in areas such as (but not exclusive to): analyst roles, supply, planning sales operations and Customer management.