Demand Planning Manager – SSA (Nairobi) at Mars

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Create an accurate both short and long term demand forecast using the customers’ demand and supply chain data, historical data, best practice planning methodology, accurate base and promotional forecasts, Sales LE tracking & reporting.
• 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. This includes accurate identification, analysis and reporting of data e.g. loyalty, market, new product forecast, pipeline fill, and cannibalization.
• 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 including Demand Review / Supply review and cluster S&OP meetings.
• Ensure appropriate identification and understanding of demand forecast changes against short and long term horizons to support effective supply chain function. Provide key inputs to support E2E Supply Chain thinking and effective decision making