Reporting to the Group Operations Director, the role will be responsible for the process of anticipating demand and planning materials and components to supply that demand, along with production, marketing, distribution, and sales. This will be done by ensuring that all parts of the organization, from materials purchasing, operation scheduling, shipping and delivery are aligned on the requirements and work together to achieve them.

Demand Planning

• To manage and maintain the relationship with key stakeholders by acting as the overall company demand and supply planner
• To execute forecast and demand management by investigating substantial demand and supply imbalances
• To perform and execute demand forecast verification
• To support projects and initiatives such as new product development (NPDs), deals, acquisitions or business development initiatives
• Interact with sales, product, and the customer to understand demand forecast drivers and plan for the same
• Drive weekly operational demand and supply reviews to ensure production plans, Material Requirement Plans and in Market Sales are aligned to the demand plan while maintaining optimum stock levels and communicating constraints in a timely manner
• Plan for promotional events to ensure that correct stock levels are maintained

Supply Planning

• Manage forecasting of imported and locally sourced raw materials and packaging materials by ensuring we have optimal cover and efficient working capital and follow up with procurement for ordering of the same when re-order levels are reached
• Provide necessary inputs to Materials Requirement Planning key to generating requirements e.g. line availability, planned shutdowns (PMs, holidays)
• Chair weekly production planning meetings by bringing together all key stakeholders from sales, operations, and finance departments and with their inputs to create a single production plan
• To manage the supply function in order fulfilment, shipping, warehousing and store to ensure healthy inventory for product availability
• To plan for the production of all new products and ensure that they are delivered to market as per timetable

Production Planning

• Develop and evaluate capacity plan both by line and SKU and advise manufacturing on shift production patterns
• Manage and develop strategy of assigned products to optimize service, inventory and efficiency
• Maintain inventory at target levels while achieving service levels
• Develop the firm production schedule and communicate to appropriate production leads
• Analyze short term constraints and establishing recommendations for resolution
• Cultivate and manage effective communications and working relationships cross- functionally Ensure change over times, standard hours, rates and demonstrated capacity are accurately reflected in the planning systems
• Maintain schedule stability by ensuring the planning of material, machine availability, SIP & COP, Maintenance and Labour

Reports

• Generate and share daily reports on production schedule adherence, Class A SKUs availability and at risk of OOS SKUs
• Produce weekly variance (forecast accuracy/forecast bias) report for continuous monitoring of actual sales vs demand
• Prepare, review and share daily material requirement planning worksheet detailing what needs to be replenished and follow up on the procurement of the same with the procurement manager
• Share on a weekly basis the production plan for the week and rolling forecast for the month and convene weekly production planning meeting to discuss the same

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Forecast accuracy of <+-5%
• Forecast bias >98% to 102%
• OOS <3% delivering volume and revenue objectives for the business
• Plan to produce >=95%
• Compliance to Schedule >98%

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

1. Directors
2. National Sales Managers
3. Commercial Insights Analysts
4. Plant Managers
5. Finance Team

• Significant professional supply chain experience
• At least 7 years hands on managerial support level experience in a manufacturing environment and in a previous planning role
• Strong in analytical and statistical skills
• Advanced level knowledge of excel

Key Attributes/ Competencies:

• Demonstrates Commercial Acumen
• Leads Change
• Advance strategy
• Drive execution
• Develop self and others

Please submit your application by the 2nd May 2025