S&OP and Demand Planning Manager at Diageo

About the role

The Sales and Operation Planning and Demand Planning Manager leads and drives an inclusive and efficient monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process. This role is saddled with the task of running S&OE and S&OP meetings to align a consensus plan with Sales, Marketing and Finance. It is also responsible for leading any overlays to the baseline volume driven by new product introductions, promotions, price increases and any other commercial activity that may affect demand.

This role will lead the end-to-end S&OP process for its market and is accountable for the forecast accuracy performance to achieve agreed upon targets.

The role needs to ensure a balance on all aspects and trade-offs of supply, including running inventory levels and minimising out of stocks, whilst delivering an adaptable supply chain that fulfils Sales forecasts accurately.

Role Responsibilities

Functions:

• Sales and Operations Planning
• Execution
• Consensus Forecast approval.
• Activity forecasting - Overlay of Promotions and Market Intelligence

Important metrics (at country level):

• Sales Forecast Accuracy - Monthly and Weekly
• Sales Forecast Bias
• Forecast Value by step.
• System critical metrics – SKUs with forecast and no sales
• Demand Plan stability
• Utmost error – Oversell /Undersell

Top Accountabilities

Facilitate the S&OP process in the Market.

• Lead the generation, alignment and consensus of the 24-month rolling demand plan on SKU/depot level in weekly and monthly buckets in support of the S&OP process.
• Lead the Demand Review step of the S&OP process with the Marketing, Supply, Finance and Commercial teams.
• Facilitate Demand Control process including weekly meetings for quicker decision making in the short term.
• Facilitate delivery of inputs to the S&OP process to ensure quality inputs are received.
• Challenge the AOP projected growth assumptions based on historical trends where important.
• Collaborate with the COE Demand Planners, local Innovation and Commercial teams on volume and size assumptions, shipment timings and cannibalization projections for all new product introductions.
• Fully drives demand and supply integration and continuously drives alignment to one plan.
• Work closely with Finance Manager to ensure volume is translated into value for S&OP process.

Generate 18-month Consensus Demand Plan (volume)

• Analyse & lead volume assumptions, considering all relevant factors, both internal and external
• Communicate critical forecast changes and supply constraints to partners in the Supply Chain, Sales and Finance teams, as well as the CoE.
• Collaborate with CoE Demand Planners to conduct root cause analysis to identify drivers of forecast error and work together to take the corrective action to drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy and bias performance.
• Ensure scenario planning for significant events in market (duty changes, customer activities, economic conditions changes, etc.)

Qualifications and Experience Required

Skills and Capabilities

• Good knowledge, management, and coordination of S&OP process
• Excellent analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Strong influencing and customer engagement skills; able to lead multiply customers across functions and geographies.
• Ability to challenge senior team members and handle tension in S&OP conversations.
• Outstanding verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Detailed understanding of end-to-end supply chain operational processes within Diageo e.g. IBP, S&OP, DRP, MPS, inventory, conversion, logistics and customer service.
• Proficient in MS applications e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook
• Previous experience working with SAP APO is desirable; however, experience with similar planning tools will be considered.

Experience

• +5 years in Supply Chain planning experience (Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Material Planning), including considerable experience leading S&OP process.
• Finance roles would also be considered.
• Wider cross-functional experience preferable e.g., Commercial, Finance or Supply.
• Prior experience leading and embedding S&OP standard process ways of working.
• High degree of quantitative and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Degree experience in appropriate supply chain, mathematical, engineering, or business degree.
• APICS CPIM / CSCP or desirable.