You might be a strong candidate if you have:
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A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
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A minimum of 5+ years of continuous experience in regional demand planning, supply chain planning, forecasting, or commercial planning.
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Experience managing multiple markets within Africa, preferably ESA.
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Strong quantitative and numerical skills with advanced Excel capability.
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Experience using ERP and planning systems such as SAP, IBP, Oracle, or similar tools.
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Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, renewable energy, retail, manufacturing, or distribution industry experience preferred.
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Knowledge of regional trade dynamics and supply chain considerations within Africa.
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Ability to travel within ESA markets as required.
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Strong quantitative evaluation and problem-solving skills.
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Commercial and business acumen.
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Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
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The ability to work effectively across diverse cultures.
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High attention to detail and accuracy.
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The ability to work in a fast-paced matrix environment.
** Demand Forecasting and Planning****
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Liaise with stakeholders to develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term demand forecasts for ESA markets.
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Review historical sales trends, seasonality, market intelligence, promotions, and customer insights to improve forecast accuracy.
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Facilitate monthly demand review meetings with cross-functional stakeholders.
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Monitor forecast performance and continuously improve forecasting accuracy.
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Manage demand planning inputs for new product launches, discontinuations, and promotional activities.
Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning****
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Contribute to the regional SIOP process by providing accurate demand projections with a target of 85%+ forecast accuracy.
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Work closely with global supply planning and procurement teams to align supply availability with market demand, targeting zero stock-outs across all markets.
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Identify demand gaps, supply risks, and inventory exposure and recommend mitigation actions.
Market and Business Insights****
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Review sales performance, inventory trends, and demand patterns across ESA markets.
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Track key demand planning KPIs including, but not limited to, forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, quantity value of working capital optimization, and loss of revenue from low inventory levels.
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Provide recommendations on trade-offs to optimize working capital requirements for the business.
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Provide supply chain health check reporting to management to inform changes in ordering frequency, safety stock definitions, and working capital requirements.
Management, Systems and Process Improvements**
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Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Commercial Finance, and Country Sales and Operations Managers to align commercial plans with demand forecasts.
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Work with local procurement teams, coordinate on lead times, and communicate business needs in advance to avoid supply chain bottlenecks.
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Maintain accurate demand planning data in ERP and forecasting systems.
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Communicate demand risks, assumptions, and forecast changes effectively to stakeholders.
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Drive continuous improvement initiatives in forecasting tools, planning processes, and reporting capabilities.
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Contribute to automation and digital transformation initiatives within supply chain planning.