Demand Manager at PZ Cussons

Job Summary

• Create and maintain the appropriate master data in APO for Demand planning.
• Follow up with Customer services and Deployment Planner to maintain system hygiene and health to ensure that demand signals are not polluted.
• Use historical sales trend to generate baseline statistical forecasts
• Responsible for the sales forecasting by working closely with other sales & marketing people in the demand planning phase of each months Business planning cycle.
• Establishes and maintains forecast analysis and reports for business decision making.
• Work with other colleagues in Commercial and Supply to achieve the business forecast accuracy Target for stable and unstable SKUs
• Co-ordinate the Monthly Forecast Consensus Meeting and follow up with team members on the actions that were agreed during the meeting.
• Load the agreed forecast volumes into APO before 5pm on the 1st Friday of every new month
• Makes decisions regarding abnormal demand, working closely with the supply manager on product availability issues.
• Proactively identify demand forecast risks and develop effective mitigation plans in collaboration with the commercial team.
• Participate actively in the NPD stage and gate process to ensure that EPDs are properly phased out before the launch of NPDs to reduce the risk of obsolesce.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales by providing and receiving input on a regular basis regarding product launches, portfolio optimization, rationale of commercial decisions, promotions, customer behavior and other sales drivers.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of university degree or equivalent in Finance or Business.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years Planning experience in an FMCG environment. Demand planning experience will be an advantage.
• Two years’ relevant operational experience in at least one of the following areas - Sales, Customer Service, Supply Planning, Marketing, Finance (Business Planning / Dynamic Forecasting)
• Expert Level proficiency in Microsoft Office Excel
• Relevant certification is an additional advantage
• Meticulous and analytical approach to data
• Good interpersonal, facilitation and Communication Skills
•  Be innovative and proactive.
• Be assertive, courageous, and persistent.