Demand Planner

Pernod Ricard; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pernod Ricard Malaysia is seeking a Demand Planner to build a robust 18‑month demand plan by leveraging statistics and inputs from sales, marketing and customer service to optimize service level, cost and cash within the S&OP process.

The successful candidate will improve forecast accuracy and reduce bias, secure S&OP sign‑off with Sales & Marketing, and hand off to replenishment to protect service levels and working capital.

Qualifications

• Experience in demand forecasting and S&OP processes.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Ability to collaborate with sales, marketing and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Analyze KPIs: forecast accuracy and bias.
• Understand root causes of errors and adjust forecasts.
• Integrate NPD/delist performance and recommend portfolio changes.
• Constrain forecasts during allocation or shortages.
• Prepare DRM inputs and secure sign-off with MC Sales Director.
• Review short-term (0-3M) demand plan weekly and adjust accordingly.

Job description

The Demand planner is responsible to create a robust 18-Month demand plan leveraging statistics, collecting data and inputs from any third parties (eg sales, marketing and customer service) which will contribute to an efficient S&OP process, and to optimize service level, cost and cash.

The role improves forecast accuracy and bias, secures S&OP sign-off with Sales & Marketing teams, and provides a clear hand-off to replenishment and allocation processes with team to protect service and working capital.

Key Accountabilities

Past Performance Analysis

• Analyze Key Performance Indicators (Forecast Accuracy and Bias)
• Understand root causes of errors - define & apply corrective actions when applicable. Update forecasts accordingly
• Integrate NPD/delist performance vs assumptions, and recommend portfolio rationalization where relevant
• Check consistency of Automatic Outlier Correction and make necessary adjustments. Clean Sales History from any significant exceptional event

Forecast build (Short and Mid-Long term)

• Get information about product lifecycle (listing, delisting, switches…) market trend, and change in distribution from all relevant stakeholders
• Analyze statistical forecast variations and make necessary adjustments on exception basis
• Enrich Statistical forecast by translating demand drivers into quantifiable uplifts and cannibalizations; maintain clear assumptions logs tracking over S&OP cycles
• Get information on promotional activities from sales and customer service (status, volume shipment pattern, orders). Track and challenge promotional volumes
• Constrain Sales forecasts in case of allocation and/ or temporary shortages
• Anticipate the impact of external market drivers & integrate volume-to-value translation to support business choices (e.g. service trade-offs) through Scenario Planning

S&OP process

• Prepare and facilitate 1 to 1 pre–Demand Review Meeting with Sales team, highlighting forecasts variations, forecast performance, assumptions on all demand drivers and current risks and opportunities
• Prepare inputs and facilitate Demand Review Meeting (DRM) to get MC Sales Director’s sign-off of the 18M Demand Plan
• Adjust demand plan following DRM output when applicable to respect Drumbeat global deadline on S&OP

S&OE Process

• Review short-term (0-3M) demand plan every week on exception basis to adjust short term demand plan according to latest demand drivers' assumptions/signals
• Communicate the updated short-term demand plan to Replenishment; ensure alignment with allocation guidelines and exceptions
• Participate to Weekly S&OE meeting to help arbitrating service risks, SSOS reduction by integrating feedback from Replenishment Planners

Job Requirement

Functional Capability

• Demand Forecasting & Planning
• Data Analysis & Interpretation
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Alignment
• Forecasting Tools & Technology
• Consumer Focus

Leadership/ Soft Capabilities : Strategic thinking, decision-making, collaboration, communication, problem solving, change management