Manager - Inwards Planning

About Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL)

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL) is India's first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse. As a leader in the Indian fashion landscape, we are driven by innovation, consumer-centricity, and operational excellence. The Supply Chain Planning team is the backbone of our operations, ensuring timely and efficient flow of merchandise to meet market demands and strategic business goals.

Role Summary

The Manager - Inwards Planning will be a key driver in optimizing the planning and execution of all domestic and import inward stock movements. This role requires a blend of strategic foresight, hands-on analytical capability, and strong stakeholder management to ensure supply chain efficiency, stock availability, and cost-effectiveness across the entire inwards lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inwards Planning & Strategy

Stock Planning: Conduct comprehensive Inwards stock planning for Pantaloons and Ownd! on consumption patterns, inventory norms, and sales forecasts.

Capacity Management: Coordinate with Distribution Centers (DCs), Logistics Service Providers (LSPs), and internal warehouses to oversee and optimize inbound flow and ensure capacity readiness.

Vendor Management: Plan and monitor inward material flow from a base of 400+ domestic and international Finished Goods (FG) vendors, ensuring alignment with annual/seasonal supply plans.

Compliance & Cost: Ensure timely stock deliveries while driving cost-effectiveness in inbound logistics and minimizing demurrage/detention charges, especially for imports.

2. System & Analytical Excellence

SAP Mastery: Serve as a Subject Matter Expert for SAP SCM/MM/PP modules as they relate to inbound processes. Drive the setup, maintenance, and optimal utilization of planning parameters within SAP.

Advanced Analytics: Leverage MS Excel (VBA, Power Query, Advanced Formulas) to build robust planning models, conduct scenario analysis, and create dynamic reports/dashboards to track key performance indicators (KPIs).

Performance Monitoring: Monitor supply chain performance against vendor delivery commitments, tracking and resolving queries related to Product, Advance Shipment Notices (ASNs), documentation, Logistics & Goods Receipt Note (GRN).

3. Stakeholder Management & Communication

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison between Merchandise Planning, Commercials, Product Development, Finance, and Logistics teams to harmonize inward flow and resolve bottlenecks.

Logistics Partner Management: Manage relationships with Freight Forwarders and Customs House Agents (CHAs) to streamline imports from key sourcing hubs (e.g., China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka).

Driving Projects: Support product development and supply chain improvement initiatives by providing timely data and analytical insights.

Team Leadership: Guide and mentor junior analysts, promoting a data-driven and collaborative working environment.

Qualifications & Skills (Must-Haves)

Education: Full-time MBA from a Premier Tier-1/Tier-2 Business School is mandatory.

Experience: 5-7 years of post-MBA experience in Supply Chain Planning, Inwards/Inbound Logistics Planning, or Demand/Supply Planning within the Retail, E-commerce, or FMCG sectors.

Technical Acumen:

Expert-level proficiency in SAP (especially SCM/MM).

Advanced proficiency in MS Excel for complex data manipulation and model building.

Interpersonal Skills:

Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to manage diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Proven ability to work effectively in a high-pressure, fast-paced retail environment.

Analytical Prowess: Strong ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.