Demand Planner (Japanese Speaker)

Sanofi; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 72,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanofi Malaysia seeks a Demand Planner to drive accurate demand signals using Kinaxis, aligning BUs and markets with Manufacturing and Supply through cross-functional collaboration with Commercial, Regulatory and Finance teams.

The role translates local conditions into actionable planning data, improves forecast accuracy, and supports S&OE with root-cause analysis. Bachelor’s degree with 2–3 years in demand planning; English fluency; Japanese preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2–3 years of experience in demand planning.
• Fluent in English; Japanese language preferred.
• Pharma manufacturing knowledge is a plus.
• Familiar with SAP or Kinaxis is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Gather past and future demand factors from BUs and forecast impacts in planning tools.
• Integrate statistical forecasting with local market knowledge and adjust only when accuracy improves.
• Ensure master data quality in planning and ERP systems and proper use of planning parameters.
• Analyze forecast deviations, consolidate forecasts across markets, ensure coherence.
• Capture opportunities in planning tools for scenario planning and supply constraints.
• Contribute to S&OP by root-cause analysis of demand changes and supply risks.

Skills

English fluency

Japanese (preferred)

Analytical thinking

Scenario planning

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Tools

SAP

Kinaxis

Job description

The Demand Planner is a key driver in generating and managing accurate customer demand signals in Sanofi planning tools (Kinaxis). This position ensures the alignment of Business Units (BUs) and markets with Manufacturing and Supply (M&S) through collaboration with stakeholders at the market such as Commercial BUs, Regulatory, Finance and local Supply Chain (Demand Managers, Logistics and Customer Fulfillment/Engagement).

This is achieved by translating local conditions such as product life cycles, sales patterns and what-if scenarios in actionable data in our planning tools. Another element of the role is on continuous improvement through performance analysis and actions to help achieve the goals of the organization to supply products in a reliable and competitive way.

About Sanofi:

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main responsibilities

In close collaboration with key stakeholders, mainly the Demand Managers, BUs and upstream M&S planners:

Gather past and future demand factors (e.g., tenders, competition, market share, price changes, new/discontinued products, short shelf-life impacts, out-of-stock situations, S&OE impacts, promotion plans, sales history cleansing) from Business Units (BUs) and forecast/model their impacts on demand in planning tools

Integrate statistical forecasting with local market knowledge to enrich demand planning, accounting for deviations from statistical models, ensuring that statistical forecasts are only adjusted when we expect the accuracy increase

Ensure a strong focus on accurate master data in planning and ERP tools and proper use of demand planning parameters, such as code switches, disaggregation rules, phase in/out, sales attributes etc.

Analyze and question assumptions, consolidate sales forecasts from various markets, and ensure the coherence of the final plan.

Capture active and inactive opportunities in planning tools to enable scenario planning, including supply constraints.

Review significant deviations from forecast, budget, market trends, ensuring global data consistency.

Participate in the Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) by delivering root cause analysis of demand plan changes in the short-term horizon, and sharing supply risks received from GBU Supply Chain teams upstream.

Work towards continuously improving the objective of forecast accuracyto maximize OTIF to the client.

Analyze and track products at risk of destruction due to short shelf-life or lack of demand, and engage relevant stakeholders to set up and execute action plans

Conduct a Monthly Root Cause Analysis review of forecast deviations, Out-of-Stocks products to identify and implement actions to improve.

Periodically check data consistency in planning tools and data.

Work in coordination with Product Planners to ensure an effective communication of demand shifts to enable agile changes in the supply plan.

Participate in all the committees where decisions are taken about new products, new adoptions, discontinuations, stock at risk due to short shelf-life etc. .. ensuring a good understanding of volumes, formats and dates.Update the Demand plan accordingly in Planning tools.

Support the preparation and presentation of demand plans in IBP meetings.

About you

Skills/Expertise/Experience

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and min 2-3 years of experience in demand planning

Fluent English communication and writing skills

Fluent in Japanese communication is highlight preferred.

Preferred Skills/Expertise/Experience

Knowledge of pharmaceutical primary and secondary manufacturing processes preferred

Understanding of basic manufacturing processes and ability to apply to supply chain management and specifically in demand planning

Basic knowledge of regulatory processes and requirements an advantage

Skilled in scenario planning, risk / benefit analysis, contingency planning and problem solving

Strong willingness to drive change as well as good internal marketing and communication skills

Excellent systems (SAP and Kinaxis an advantage) skills and basic understanding of financial function

Competency Requirements

A high level of accountability and attention to details required

Demonstrated high standards of integrity, professionalism, and commitment

Good team facilitation and relationship building skills

Why choose us?

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law