Value Chain Demand Manager - VKB Milling, Reitz (or any related milling site)

Introduction to the VKB Group

The VKB Group is an agricultural company, providing support to farmers and producing straight-from-the farm-foods for consumers. Apart from the various consumer brands, the VKB Group is also represented by its regional brands: VKB, GWK and NTK. Our roots are firmly planted in agriculture with farming at our core, continuously growing and evolving throughout the years.

Starting with providing everything needed on the farm to produce food, we now also operate in all areas of the food supply chain: processing, logistics, and national and global market channels.

This “house of brands” we’ve established with the support of our farmer shareholders is the foundation for building the agribusiness of the future.

More about

VKB Milling (Pty) Ltd is one of four subsidiaries of VKB Agri Processors (Pty) Ltd, the agri-processing division of the VKB Group. The VKB Group is a significant role player in the agricultural industry in South Africa and strives, through best practices, continuous improvement and world-class operations, to add meaningful value to the industry.

VKB Milling (Pty) Ltd operates white maize mills in Mokopane and Louis Trichardt in Limpopo, and Mashishing in Mpumalanga, a wheat mill in Frankfort in the Free State as well as a maize mill in Christiana and a Wheat Mill in Modderrivier in the Northern Cape.

The company offers employees the opportunity to utilise and develop their skills and knowledge in a challenging and rewarding work environment.

Job function

The Value Chain Demand Manager will be responsible for forecasting and managing customer demand to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place, optimising the supply chain and balancing supply with demand.

Job requirements

• At least 3-5 years’ experience in FMCG in sales or operations
• Experience in demand planning, forecasting, S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), and supply planning is essential.
• Tertiary qualification – BCom degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, or a related field.
• Driver's license and own transport
• Willingness to travel

Job description

• Develop sound forecasting methodology and tool for the group
• Prepare information for forecast discussion and decisions
• 3-, 6- & 12-month moving averages by SKU/product
• Develop and agree volumes forecast by SKU/product, by Customer, by Mill (Category specific i.e. Maize, Wheat, Pasta, Noodles, Spaghetti)
• 4-week FC
• 8-week FC
• 12-week FC
• Establish forecast frequency/rhythm with Sales team
• Monthly FC meetings in 3^rd week of the month on a Monday
• Include in discussions/meetings:
• Rate of sale by SKU & Customer & Mill / Distribution site
• Promotional activity that might impact on rate of sale/FC
• Highlight deviations exceeding 10% vs. FC and discuss action plans with Sales team
• Tracking of forecast vs. actual sales monthly (forecast accuracy)
• Advise Central Procurement team on packaging material quantities to be procured vs. lead times involved and stock cover required (avoid out of stock situations)
• Provide volume forecast to Procurement team for raw material procurement
• Provide Logistics team with volume forecast for fleet planning by site
• Do daily stock checks in NAV to monitor critical stock levels by SKU
• Consolidate orders with all sites on Co-packed items like Noodles & Spaghetti for replenishment orders with suppliers

Skills required

• Strong leadership capabilities to influence a wider group of people
• Ability to engage with all departments and levels of management
• Values driven – Humble, Hungry, Bold, Smart, Team player!
• Ability to work under pressure – deadlines
• Analytical ability (Trends, insights & recommendation)
• Systems knowledge (Microsoft NAV & related systems)
• Microsoft – Word, PowerPoint, Excel etc.

Other Information

• The company can expire jobs at any time at their own discretion.
• VKB Group and/or its subsidiary companies will use any personal data collected through the job opportunities section of this website for recruitment purposes only and, should your application be successful, for purposes connected with your employment.
• VKB Group is an equal opportunity employer. VKB Group’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to VKB Group’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. VKB Group actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.