Demand Planning Manager

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Constantly looking for better ways to nourish the world, General Mills has been operating in the Middle East for almost 20 years. Managing businesses in more than 20 countries, we offer trusted, quality brands and exceptional opportunities for those with the entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and cultural awareness to excel. We have been innovating in significant ways, not just in our brands and products, but also in adapting to the communities we proudly serve. Exceptional employee engagement happens when an organization is conscious and purposeful about it. In a bid to make food the world loves, we pay utmost attention to the capabilities of our people and the strengths of our culture. We ensure a workplace that enables learning to happen anytime, anywhere. Some of our big brands are Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Green Giant, Old El Paso & Haagen Dazs.

**Job Description**:
The position of Supply & Demand Planning Lead reports to the Planning Manager. A business critical and high impact role
- is responsible for developing inventory replenishment plans
- that will enable the company to meet its sales and service objectives. Collaboration is paramount with all functions to ensure that the main business objectives are met.

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**Key responsibilities will include**:
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**Demand Planning/Forecasting**:

- Lead demand review meetings within the S&OP process, ensuring teams are aligned on forecasts, addressing any gaps, and coordinating demand planning with overall business goals.
- Collaborate with distributors to gather IMS demand changes and market insights to ensure accurate demand plans.
- Analyse historical sales data, monitor market trends and distributor feedback to reflect required forecast changes.
- Translate and consolidate all distributor IMS forecast
- Ensure accurate planning, SKU mix, aggregate volume leading to proper financial planning (Scenarios, Budgets, and long-range planning).
- Measure to Improve Forecasting KPIs such as FC Accuracy & Bias Lag-1 & Lag-3

**Supply Planning & Inventory Management**:

- Coordinate distributor orders with co-manufacturers, ensuring alignment with the production plan and overseeing raw and packaging material planning (MRP) to meet delivery timelines and maintain supply continuity
- Track and explain the variance in term of performance versus outlook during demand reviews, share findings and analysis with SC team
- Reconcile the actual orders captured by CS team and ensure forward outlook planning in coordination with planning manager.
- Manage Distribution Requirement Planning (DRP) to update shipment plans in APO based on the Drop-to-Plant calendar, working closely with the customer service team to prompt distributor orders per SLA. Ensure adequate supply to meet projected sales, including any incremental demand from ATL and BTL activities.
- Responsible to evaluate material and production constraints, storage, write offs implications & supply issues to provide contingency plans for best utilization of resources aiming at optimizing it.
- Solve ad-hoc inquiries related to supply -escalate if required
- Support in NPD & launch process; liaise concurrently with all stakeholders to ensure timely product supply, including system integration and optimal packaging design where required
- Ensure a low phase-out cost for non-performing SKU as an output of rationalization.
- Measure to Improve: Shipment Forecast Accuracy LAG -3 & OTIF

**Distributor Relationship Management (CPFR)**
- Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, acting as the primary link between the GMI and the distributor’s supply chain teams to ensure smooth coordination and communication.
- Run and lead the integrated S&OP cycle with distributors, ensuring their demand forecasts and supply plans are aligned with overall operations to maintain product availability and meet business goals.
- Influence the distributor’s demand and supply decisions by providing data-driven recommendations and aligning on objectives.
- Ensure consistent data acquisition from all distributors
- Measure to improve Distributor KPIs:

- IMS Forecast Accuracy & Bias
- Monthly Stock Availability
- Stocks Ageing/Freshness
- Primary & Secondary Service levels
- Order Prompt Compliance
- Bad Cost Reduction
- Ensure customers and plants are aligned with SLA, handle clarification proactively-report any ambiguity to Planning manager.
- Resolve/Manage distributor claims
- communicate with CS & Plants effectively.

**Required: Qualifications/Skills/Experience**
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably industrial or Supply Chain Management
- 3-4 Years experience in demand planning, supply chain management, or logistics
- in the FMCG field.
- Experience working with distributors, particularly in the KSA market.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills to influence distributor decisions and align on mutual goals.
- Ability to w