Demand Planner Supply Chain– The purpose of the position is to keep stock levels at optimum levels in all locations across the country. This department is important in maintaining model stock levels across all locations, executing promotions, managing item masters, forecasting, planning, and uploading allocations and to manage suppliers. It stretches over several customers and national stock holding. Relationship management, reporting, and expediting on assured supply issues are of importance for the department. A strong sense of urgency and attention to detail are key requirements. This is a skilled level position, where teamwork is expected from staff while maintaining excellent relationships with internal and external stake holders. The Key Functional Responsibilities: Customer management • Maintain a professional relationship with the customer & suppliers. • Handle queries with customers and escalate where needed to the appropriate levels. • Ensure that all customer risk, supplier concerns and possible stock outs are communicated to the customers timeously. Stock cover reporting • Maintaining accurate forecasting levels is of utmost importance. Forecasting needs to be done on a weekly basis as required to ensure optimal execution. • Report on stock cover across all customers and all locations, distributed to the correct audience at the agreed times using the Projected Days Cover Report. • Ensure stock on hand is aligned with agreed safety stock levels and stock parameters are maintained and updated to accommodate both suppliers lead times and pareto level in accordance with warehouse utilization. • Ensure that the required information is contained in the report and all information is accurate. Delivery information must be verified with suppliers. • Ensure action items are accurately reported to the customer on a weekly basis and followed up to accommodate deadlines. • Report possible out of stock scenarios and investigate over stock situations. • Escalate where needed. Out of stock management • Ensure the Pre-out-of-stock reporting is accurate and submitted on time. • Ensure reason codes for out of stocks and/or substitutions are accurate. • Communicate changes on certain items & ensure execution by the Order Admin team. • Ordered vs invoiced report communicated to all stake holders daily. Ensure accuracy & action any anomalies before distributing to customers. Make certain of assured supply • Assume responsibility for assured supply of product within all regions within agreed model stock parameters. • Receive open purchase order report daily from all DCs per customer to ensure that planned deliveries have taken place. In the case of a non-delivery, immediate follow up with the supplier and book a new time slot. Escalate non-delivery to customers & manager, where required. • Manage inbound deliveries including receiving time slots. • Manage orders and facilitate the imports process on all imported stock, if applicable to your account. • Manage orders and facilitate the exports process on all export stock, if applicable to your account. • Ensure that inter DCs received from the demand planner are checked to ensure that all required stock is being planned for. • Ensure that any last-minute changes are discussed with the demand planner, communicated to Managed Freight and sent to the relevant DCs. • Ensure documentation is submitted within cut-off times to DCs for picking & loading. Strategic alignment of inventory levels & cash flow • Ensure Barnton tools namely, Forecasting & Interface are maintained and updated in order to comply with delivery schedules and DC capacity. • Implement client forecasts and/or make the necessary adjustments on Barnton Forecasting tool, ensuring optimum stock levels during peak periods with minimal impact to DC capacity. • Ensure that inventory levels are managed to the minimum levels over month end period without impacting on assured supply. • Ensure reports are submitted on time & correctly to all stakeholders. • Short shelf-life analysis reports to be compiled, investigated and actioned accordingly. • Over stocked, slow and non-moving items to be investigated & discussed with the customer on a weekly basis to ensure that a plan of action is available to deplete stock. Imports management (If Applicable to your Account) • Ensure efficient, effective and accurate monthly, weekly and daily planning of imported products. • Build effective relationships with internal and external clients (suppliers and corporation SCM team) to improve operating efficiencies. • Assist operations with inbound planning and receipt of import containers. • Manage orders and facilitate the imports process on all imported stock. • Update and maintain the Import Tracking Report (ITR), Perform short shelf-life analysis on imported items and report to customers on possible risk. • Complete costing templates when required. Exports management (If Applicable to your Account) • Export stock purchased according to procedure. • Manage Made to Order items. • Stock Transfer as per procedure. • Expedite deliveries into DC. • Analyse export tracking sheet to ensure orders are aligned with plan. • Analyse shelf life and escalate to the export team for action. General • Live the Company values. • Driven with very good verbal and written communication skills. • Build excellent relationships with DCs, customers and suppliers. • Have weekly telecoms/meetings with DCs to align on special requirements, exceptions, inbound and outbound volumes and other issues arising. • Perform seasonality forecasts for internal use. • Monthly/weekly/daily reporting for all customers as per request. • Adhere to quality standards & procedures. • Adhere to policies & procedures. Experience Required • Grade 12 with a Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain, APICS CSCP certification advantageous • 2 – 5 Years in Procurements within a FMCG QSR environment • Sound knowledge on shelf life and related fields / FMCG • MS office skills with advanced Excel