SAP Functional Lead - Inventory, Planning & Data

Centrica; Windsor; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Centrica is seeking an experienced SAP Functional Lead for Inventory, Planning & Data to own SAP-centric planning capabilities, including IBP and MRP. You will drive reliable, scalable, standard-focused planning solutions and collaborate with Product, Operations, Data and Finance to improve forecast accuracy and stock visibility.

You will lead functional design, KPIs, and guardrails, balancing sustainability with innovation as the platform matures.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience delivering forecasting, replenishment and inventory optimisation in SAP-centric planning landscapes.
• Strong command of SAP planning data structures and hierarchies, including product/location hierarchies and master data.
• Proven experience defining and governing planning KPIs within SAP-centric landscapes (forecast accuracy, bias, MAPE, plan adherence).
• Practical understanding of S&OP cadence, replenishment policies and service-level vs. cost trade-offs.
• Awareness of SAP-native AI capabilities, ML in demand forecasting and ERP-centred adoption realities.

Responsibilities

• Own and shape the functional design of inventory, forecasting and replenishment across SAP planning systems.
• Champion fit-to-standard planning and inventory design, prioritising SAP standard approaches.
• Partner with Master Data, Analytics and Finance to ensure master data services are correctly consumed.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Operations SMEs to enable data-driven forecasting and inventory management.
• Establish reliable planning processes with explainable forecast outputs and traceable KPIs.
• Define and track planning KPIs such as forecast accuracy, bias, MAPE and inventory health.
• Identify where AI and automation can improve forecast accuracy and planner productivity.

Skills

Forecasting & replenishment

Inventory optimisation

SAP planning

IBP & S/4HANA

Data governance

Tools

SAP IBP

S/4HANA MRP

Predictive MRP

IBP for Demand

Job description

Join us, be part of more.

We’re so much more than an energy company. We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That’s why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it.

Join us, be part of more.

We’re so much more than an energy company. We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That’s why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it.

SAP Functional Lead - Inventory, Planning & Data

An opportunity to play your part As Centrica’s SAP Functional Tech Lead for Inventory, Planning & Data, you will own and shape SAP-centric inventory, forecasting, replenishment and supply-chain data capabilities within the Supply Chain Platform. You will lead the evolution of reliable, scalable and fit-to-standard planning and inventory solutions, delivering measurable improvements in forecast accuracy, stock visibility, inventory optimisation and supply-chain data quality. Working closely with Product, Operations, Data Science and Engineering, you will balance platform sustainability with innovation, shaping how AI, advanced SAP planning and automation are embedded into supply chain planning as the platform matures.

• You will own and shape the functional design of inventory, forecasting and replenishment solutions across SAP planning systems, including IBP for Demand, IBP for Inventory, S/4HANA MRP and Predictive MRP, ensuring clean integration with downstream execution processes.
• You will champion fit-to-standard planning and inventory design, prioritising SAP standard planning approaches, data structures and KPIs while challenging unnecessary bespoke logic.
• You will partner with Master Data, Analytics and Finance teams to ensure planning solutions consume enterprise master-data services correctly and feed operational and financial reporting reliably.
• You will work with Supply Chain Operations SMEs to enable data-driven forecasting, replenishment and inventory management, improving forecast accuracy, plan adherence and inventory efficiency.
• You will establish reliable, observable planning processes, ensuring forecast outputs, inventory positions and KPIs are explainable, traceable and trusted.
• You will define and track planning KPIs such as forecast accuracy, bias, MAPE, plan adherence, inventory health and data quality thresholds.
• You will identify where AI/ML, advanced SAP-native planning capabilities and automation can improve forecast accuracy, inventory health, replenishment decisions and planner productivity.
• You will provide functional leadership on planning standards and guardrails, working with Product, Architecture, Finance, Data, Operations and delivery squads to keep solutions consistent, reliable and aligned to business outcomes.

What we need from you

• Strong hands-on experience delivering forecasting, replenishment and inventory optimisation capabilities in SAP-centric planning landscapes, including SAP IBP, S/4HANA MRP or Predictive MRP, with experience integrating or extending standard SAP capability where needed.
• Strong command of SAP planning data structures and hierarchies, including product and location hierarchies, planning master data and the way these drive forecasting accuracy, replenishment logic and inventory optimisation.
• Proven experience defining and governing planning KPIs and metrics within SAP-centric landscapes, such as forecast accuracy, bias, MAPE, plan adherence and inventory health.
• Practical understanding of supply chain planning and inventory operations, including S&OP cadence, replenishment policies, KPI interpretation and service-level versus cost trade-offs.
• Strong appreciation of how planning outputs support operational execution, financial forecasting, inventory valuation and working-capital decisions.
• Awareness of SAP-native AI capabilities, machine learning in demand forecasting, advanced analytics and the practical realities of adopting AI within an ERP-centred estate.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence Product, Operations, Finance, Data, Architecture and delivery teams and translate complex planning topics into business impact.

Why should you apply?

We’re not a perfect place - but we’re a people place. Our priority is supporting all of the different realities our people face. Life is about so much more than work. We get it. That’s why we’ve designed our total rewards to give you the flexibility to choose what you need, when you need it, making sure that you and your family are supported not only financially, but physically and emotionally too.

Visit the link below to discover why we’re a great place to work and what being part of more means for you.

https://www.morethanacareer.energy/centrica

If you're full of energy, fired up about sustainability, and ready to craft not only a better tomorrow, but a better you, then come and find your purpose in a team where your voice matters, your growth is non-negotiable, and your ambitions are our priority.

Help us, help you. We would love for you to share any information about yourself throughout our recruitment process so that we can better understand you and help shape your journey.