Customer Demand Planner-2

Job Description

Job Description:

The Customer Demand Planner is responsible for building and managing the demand forecast (short term) for the customer's EDC, Gum, Fruity Confections and Seasonal portfolios. The job holder works closely with Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain to ensure high levels of forecast accuracy, a key requirement for ensuring high levels of Customer Service, optimised stock levels, and delivery of products on time. The position analyses promotional performance and historic forecast performance and works with the Sales team to drive initiatives that will enable the business to efficiently deliver customer demand, drive efficiency in the supply chain and optimum on shelf availability whilst minimizing waste. The Demand Planning leader is responsible for managing the forecast for a complex account with high levels of promotional complexity, demand forecast volatility and is a scale partner.

The Demand Planning Leader is also responsible for understanding the total Channel demand forecast for one of our Customer Channels (Grocery/Impulse/Discounters) and supporting the Channel Leadership Team in understanding key risks and opportunities.

Furthermore he / she will work with the remaining Customer Demand Planners working on the Channel to ensure that a consistent approach is taken to planning the Channel's portfolio of accounts and products.

What are we looking for?

• Demand and Customer Management experience within a FMCG environment with a demonstrated ability to act with the customer and company in mind.

  •Excellent 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.

  •Good business acumen with a good understanding and application of the sales cycle, trends and broader business implications to making judgments and recommendations for action.

  •Proven track record of accurate and effective planning that ensures the customers supply chain services are met, full on-shelf availability is achieved and optimal customer service and profitability is delivered.

  •Experience of building strong relationships in a cross functional environment.

  •Experience in areas such as (but not exclusive to): analyst roles, supply, planning sales operations and Customer management.

  •Excellent Excel skills and ideally knowledge of JDA.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Customer Demand Planning:

  •Create an accurate 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.

  •Ownership of FVA, SFA (P-1) and Bias (P-3 and P-1) for the customer’s portfolio.

  •Collaborate with the National Demand Planners and Supply Chain colleagues 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-modelling techniques to develop tactical and operational accurate demand forecasts.

  •Partners with sales and the customer to support strategic demand planning and develop and execute solutions that enable efficiency, effectiveness and growth e.g. 30:60:90 meetings.

  •Collaborates with key stakeholders internally to navigate customer challenges and provide solutions as required to maximize on shelf availability.

  •Manages and influences their customer 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.

  •Identifies opportunities to introduce better, faster, more accurate and scalable solutions that better meet customer needs and deliver strong forecast accuracy.

  •Utilises 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.

  •Inputs and administrates the promotional volume input into CAS, the MWC promotional planning tool

  Channel Leadership:

  •Supports the Channel and CDP Manager in understanding the total Channel forecast, risks and opportunities and overall actual performance vs plan. Supports the Channel in identifying what actions need to be put in place to drive improved forecast accuracy.

  •Identifies practice for the Channel team and rolls this out through the periodic planning process.

  •The job holder is the key point of contact for the Channel Leadership team in preparing the volume inputs for the CPR/DMR

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.