Demand Planner: HPC

Tigerbrands; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Tiger Brands is seeking a Demand Planning professional to join the S&OP team in Gauteng. You will create weekly demand plans for customer groups and SKUs, collaborate with analytics, and define the statistical baseline forecast using SAP IBP.

You will be responsible for data cleansing, master data setup, dashboards, and what-if simulations to improve forecast accuracy and support action planning across sales, marketing, and finance.

Qualifications

• Analytical skills and problem solving.
• 3+ years experience in demand planning.
• Experience in FMCG industry desirable.

Responsibilities

• Create weekly demand plans for customer groups and SKUs.
• Set up forecasting models in SAP IBP for 12–60 months.
• Maintain master data in SAP IBP and ensure data quality.

Skills

Forecasting methods

SAP IBP

Data analysis

KPI tracking

Dashboarding

Education

Degree in Industrial Engineering, Production or Supply Chain Management

Tools

SAP IBP

SAP Analytics Cloud

Excel

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

You are part of the S&OP team responsible for the creation of a demand plan for categories within the respective portfolio. You are responsible for delivering a weekly demand plan for the customer groups and SKUs within the categories under your responsibility. You collaborate with the Supply Chain analytics team to define the statistical baseline forecast and ensure forecast accuracy.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Set up statistical forecasting models (e.g., time-series, regression) in SAP IBP for 12-60 months
• Cleanse historical forecast data to correct the baseline in SAP IBP and ensure data quality, and harmonization for accurate forecasting
• Establish master data structures (products, locations, planning combinations, NPI) in SAP IBP
• Create simulations and what-if analysis for demand scenarios in SAP IBP
• Develop dashboards and reports using SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) or Excel add-ins
• Pull all Demand KPI’s and root cause analysis for gaps and support in making action plan
• Implement demand sensing techniques to improve real-time forecast accuracy in SAP IBP
• Analyse sales trends, validate promotional uplifts and ensure integration of sales and marketing demand drivers into overall demand to challenge and improve forecasts
• Optimize consensus demand planning (including obtaining and assessing event volumes) by integrating inputs from sales, marketing, and finance.
• Discuss new product launch volumes and discontinued items and share the information with the supply planning team to enable readiness
• Achieve consensus unconstrained demand planning by SKU/ Category and review the same with supply side to identify potential demand and supply gaps
• Review Demand Plan vs Target at category level and update unconstrained demand plan after DR in the system.
• Maintain and manage the database of sales & marketing assumptions
• Participate in the Demand Review to sign-off the category demand plan and support the monthly Capacity Review through provision of insight into demand
• Train end-users on SAP IBP functionalities and best practices

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE TABLE

Key Professional Competencies

Core knowledge

• Forecasting methods and techniques Demand Planning Best Practices (process & SAP IBP), Interrelation between customer service, production management, Inventory management (raw/ packaging materials), Supply Chain KPI’s.

Academic

• Analytical Skills, Negotiation Skills, Problem solving, Decision making, Degree in Industrial Engineering, Production or Supply Chain Management

Leadership

• Influencing others, driving long-term results, developing myself & others, staying a step-ahead, managing change

Personal Effectiveness

Effective communication, Interpersonal skills

Experience

• Function – 3+ experience in demand planning

• Industry – Experience in FMCG industry desirable

• Technology - Proficiency in SAP IBP, statistical forecasting models

WHAT YOU WILL BE MEASURED ON

• Forecast Accuracy & forecast Bias
• Customer Service Levels
• Stock write offs
• 24 months demand plan with assumptions

In accordance with the employment equity plan of Tiger Brands and its employment equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited, to candidates from under-represented designated groups.