Associate Director - Planning

Zepto; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Zepto in Bengaluru, India seeks a detail-oriented planning professional to ensure optimal stock availability through demand, PO, and capacity planning. You will work with multiple stakeholders to drive operational efficiency and maintain inventory health, with a focus on expiry guardrails and minimizing wastage.

The role requires strong analytical skills, proficiency in planning tools, and the ability to coordinate cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain, planning, or operations planning.
• Experience in demand planning, inventory management, or operations planning preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field; MBA is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Forecast demand using historical data, trends, and inputs to minimize variability.
• Create and manage indent plans to ensure timely procurement and replenishment.
• Coordinate capacity planning with internal teams to match demand and avoid bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with supply chain, procurement, operations and sales to enable timely decisions.
• Optimize inventory to balance stock, expiry guards, and wastage reduction.
• Track key planning metrics and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Planning tools & data analysis

SQL data extraction

Stakeholder management

Detail-oriented planning

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field

MBA (plus)

Tools

SQL

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive professional for a critical role in planning. The position focuses on ensuring optimal stock availability through effective demand, Purchase Order, and capacity planning, while working closely with multiple stakeholders to drive operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Demand Planning: Analyze historical data, market trends, and business inputs to forecast demand accurately and minimize variability.
• PO Planning: Develop and manage indent plans to ensure timely procurement and replenishment aligned with demand forecasts.
• Capacity Planning: Coordinate with internal teams to align capacity with demand requirements, ensuring smooth operations without bottlenecks.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, procurement, operations, and sales teams to ensure alignment and timely decision-making. Act as a bridge between planning and execution teams.
• Inventory Optimization: Ensure the right stock is available at the right time at the right place while adhering to expiry guardrails and minimizing wastage.
• Performance Monitoring: Track key planning metrics such as forecast accuracy, service levels, stock turns, and expiry-related losses; drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Objectives

• Maintain optimal inventory levels across locations
• Minimize stock-outs and overstock situations
• Ensure adherence to expiry norms and reduce write-offs
• Enable efficient supply-demand matching through structured planning

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in planning tools and data analysis
• Working knowledge of SQL for data extraction, analysis, and reporting
• Effective communication and stakeholder management abilities
• High attention to detail with a structured approach to planning
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment

Experience & Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain/planning roles
• Experience in demand planning, inventory management, or operations planning required
• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field (MBA is a plus)