Demand Planner, ESA
Posted:
About The Role:
The Inventory and Demand Planner is accountable for developing accurate demand forecasts and driving cross-functional planning processes across East and Southern Africa (about 7 markets).
The Planner will contribute to inventory optimization, product availability, and supply chain efficiency through data-informed forecasting and cross-functional coordination. The inventory covers a range of product categories including, but not limited to, smartphones, televisions, and our mainstream solar product range. This represents about $770M annual procurement volume.
The position will work closely with procurement, operations, sales, marketing, finance, commercial, and global supply planning teams to ensure alignment between market demand, inventory levels, and operational capabilities across the 8 markets.
What you will be expected to do:
Demand Forecasting and Planning
- Liaise with stakeholders to develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term demand forecasts for ESA markets.
- Review historical sales trends, seasonality, market intelligence, promotions, and customer insights to improve forecast accuracy.
- Facilitate monthly demand review meetings with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Monitor forecast performance and continuously improve forecasting accuracy.
- Manage demand planning inputs for new product launches, discontinuations, and promotional activities.
Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning
- Contribute to the regional SIOP process by providing accurate demand projections with a target of 85%+ forecast accuracy.
- Work closely with global supply planning and procurement teams to align supply availability with market demand, targeting zero stock-outs across all markets.
- Identify demand gaps, supply risks, and inventory exposure and recommend mitigation actions.
Market and Business Insights
- Review sales performance, inventory trends, and demand patterns across ESA markets.
- Track key demand planning KPIs including, but not limited to, forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, quantity value of working capital optimization, and loss of revenue from low inventory levels.
- Provide recommendations on trade-offs to optimize working capital requirements for the business.
- Provide supply chain health check reporting to management to inform changes in ordering frequency, safety stock definitions, and working capital requirements.
Management, Systems and Process Improvements
- Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Commercial Finance, and Country Sales and Operations Managers to align commercial plans with demand forecasts.
- Work with local procurement teams, coordinate on lead times, and communicate business needs in advance to avoid supply chain bottlenecks.
- Maintain accurate demand planning data in ERP and forecasting systems.
- Communicate demand risks, assumptions, and forecast changes effectively to stakeholders.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives in forecasting tools, planning processes, and reporting capabilities.
- Contribute to automation and digital transformation initiatives within supply chain planning.
You might be a strong candidate if you have:
- A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5+ years of continuous experience in regional demand planning, supply chain planning, forecasting, or commercial planning.
- Experience managing multiple markets within Africa, preferably ESA.
- Strong quantitative and numerical skills with advanced Excel capability.
- Experience using ERP and planning systems such as SAP, IBP, Oracle, or similar tools.
- Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, renewable energy, retail, manufacturing, or distribution industry experience preferred.
- Knowledge of regional trade dynamics and supply chain considerations within Africa.
- Ability to travel within ESA markets as required.
- Strong quantitative evaluation and problem-solving skills.
- Commercial and business acumen.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- The ability to work effectively across diverse cultures.
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced matrix environment.
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