Demand Planner

Cipla Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing pharmaceutical company in Cape Town is seeking a Demand Planning Specialist to drive the S&OP process and improve forecast accuracy. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in demand or supply planning, a relevant degree, and solid technical knowledge of planning systems. This role offers a dynamic environment and opportunities for growth within the supply chain team.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of demand planning or supply planning experience required.
• Fluent level of written and spoken English is required.
• Experience in FMCG or Pharmaceutical industries is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Drive the S&OP process for the assigned portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with commercial teams and finance.
• Maintain master data integrity across relevant systems.
• Lead and manage the demand review process.

Skills

Analytical skills

Planning and organizing

Problem solving

Commercial awareness

Interpersonal skills

Education

Relevant Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

Tools

SAP

Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

Statistical software

Job description

DEPARTMENT: Supply Chain Management – Planning

Job Purpose

Drive the S&OP process for assigned portfolio and effectively translate commercial insights and analytics into an accurate consensus forecast. Coordinate and collaborate with supply planning, analysts and suppliers, commercial and finance to optimize inventory and stock availability. A complex role with multiple facets and both highly analytical, transactional, and operational in nature.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Continuously improve the demand forecast and drive forecast accuracy improvements.
• Gain market insights using analytical, marketing and sales data as well as qualitative inputs to improve forecasts through demand‑driven forecasting.
• Collaborate closely with commercial teams, finance, supply planners, other relevant stakeholders, and suppliers locally and internationally.
• Maintain and ensure master data integrity across SAP, IBP, and relevant systems.
• Support, analyse, and report for the S&OP Process, specifically demand reviews.
• Prepare KPI reporting and compile presentation decks for relevant stakeholders.
• Lead and manage the demand review process with Commercial and Finance for the assigned portfolio.
• Support the reduction of stock‑expiry risk and excess inventory by driving demand shaping and mitigation planning with Commercial, Finance and Supply Planning.
• Provide monthly commentary on forecast errors and demand movements.
• Engage and coordinate discussions with commercial and supply planning teams to proactively manage risk and opportunities relating to demand.
• Maintain Days of Forward Cover (DOFC) / Safety Stock and optimise inventory levels in close collaboration with supply planners and suppliers.
• Perform order execution and management (as required) in response to demand movements in conjunction with supply planners, suppliers, and commercial teams.
• Provide front‑end feedback to supply planners and suppliers on the latest demand movements.
• Support PMO and Commercial with New Product Launches & relaunches to ensure stock availability for on‑time launches while maintaining optimal inventory.
• Conduct analytics required to drive forecast accuracy improvements (Continuous Improvement).
• Support demand and supply planning and Analytics teams with process and system improvements and optimisation.
• Drive digitalisation and automation of analytics and reporting in supply chain.

Knowledge Requirements

• Computer skills on MS Office (Advanced Excel Skills) is required.
• A solid understanding of S&OP, demand, and supply planning.
• Deep working knowledge of ERP, Forecasting / Planning & BI systems.
• Deep technical knowledge of demand & supply planning as well as inventory management.
• Experience on demand & supply management is a plus.

Skills and Attributes

• Effective planning, organising and coordinating.
• Results driven.
• Effective problem solving and decision making.
• Commercial and strategic awareness.
• Independent and self‑directed with the ability to drive execution.
• Great cross‑functional collaborator with strong influential skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) and articulate risks with an understanding of overall impact / sensitivity to the rest of the business.
• Attention to detail.
• Project management skills preferred.
• Ability to think strategically and innovatively, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• A positive minded team player.
• Experience in statistical software / forecasting is ideal.
• Ability to coach and transfer knowledge to peers and pipeline talents.
• Ability to operationalise and adopt planning best practices in day‑to‑day planning.

Education & Experience

• Relevant Bachelor's degree in supply chain management (BCom), Business Economics, Logistics (BCom), Engineering (BEng), or a related field.
• 3+ years of demand planning and/or supply planning, supply chain analytics, industrial engineering.
• Exposure to supply chain and supporting S&OP process is required.
• Experience in Demand Planning including replenishment forecasting is required.
• Previous exposure to working with statistical forecasts is a plus.
• Previous experience in data analytics / science is a plus.
• APICS certification (CPF or CPIM) is an advantage.
• Experience in the FMCG / Pharmaceutical industries is advantageous.
• Good working knowledge with ERP systems (SAP), Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and BI Platforms.
• Fluent level of written and spoken English.

Additional language is a plus.

JOB LOCATION

Cape Town

Cipla is an Employment Equity employer, and this position will be filled based on our Employment Equity Plan.