Job Opportunity at Unilever

Job description

MAIN JOB PURPOSE

• Fully responsible for stocks conformance at all ESA (East and Southern Africa) distribution centers (ensure stock norms are kept.)
• To maintain finished goods stock levels on consolidation warehouse as per the inventory policies individually set for storage location/SKU.
• To create distribution model and deployment plans for new/modified product launches/promo campaigns.
• To maintain and analyze tolerances for supply alerts.
• Manage innovations across the ESA distribution centers.
• Participate in costing exercise of the finished products.
• Ensure ICSA, ICQA and SLAs are in place with Unilever SU’s (Intercompany Sourcing Agreement/Intercompany Quality
• Agreement and Service Level Agreements).
• Responsible for optimizing overall stock holding by reviewing stock model for finished goods into the specific ESA country.
• Drive Business Waste improvements and supply distribution cost reductions.
• Generate cost savings by transport optimization.

Job Summary

• To deliver the finished goods replenishment plan for export markets by calculating replenishment requirements on all levels of the primary supply chain on a weekly & monthly basis based on market demand.
• To ensure availability of timely and accurate information for the replenishment requirements and deployment plans for the export markets.
• Identify potential inventory liabilities / issues and escalate.
• To manage exceptional requests through the supply chain to ensure the most effective response whilst balancing the needs of the end market, other customers and Operations.
• To contribute to regular reviews of inventory policies for finished goods and on storage location/SKU level.
• Reduce distribution center freight costs resulting from coordinated shipments.
• Reduce inventory levels by accurately determining what product is needed and by when.
• Decrease warehouse space requirements because of inventory reductions.
• Reduce customer freight costs because of fewer back orders.
• Improve inventory viability and coordination between logistics and manufacturing.
• Enhance budgeting capability by effectively simulating inventory and transportation requirements under multiple planning scenarios.
• Work with planning and marketing department to improve ability to anticipate shortages in advance and mitigate them.
• Improved inventory coordination with other enterprise functions by facilitating a common set of planning numbers.
• To ensure the distribution plan provides high product availability whilst maintaining the most optimal stock levels and resource utilization.
• To prepare reports on Inventory planning data to enable the control cycle to be executed on time.
• Maintain relevant planning data in SAP to facilitate accurate planning and execution
• Align distribution plans across Service and NPI Functions and be aware of all product/EM requirements to ensure smooth transition during project changes
• Highlight any shortfalls or risks on delivering exceptional customer requirements
• To effectively build, manage and improve upon relationships between the Planning function, Service team, end market supply/distribution teams and NPI.
• Continually seek out opportunities for improvement within operations to deliver improved business results and the elimination of financial waste within the cluster

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree: Operations, Logistics, Business Administration, Supply Chain or any other relevant subject.
• At least 4years supply chain experience preferably in exports transport planning
• Strong SAP knowledge and skills especially Order to Cash
• Previous experience of transport planning ideally in the FMCG or manufacturing environment
• Strong IT systems knowledge and skills including advanced Excel skills
• Understanding of country specific export regulations for East & Southern Africa.
• Knowledge and experience in inventory management
• Good understanding of supply chain processes and their interdependencies
• Understanding of supplier relationships and some experience of working with suppliers
• Knowledge on lean techniques and continuous improvement program may be advantageous
• Commitment to work towards professional accreditation with an industry related body