Kimberly Clark - Manager - Demand Planning

Key Responsibilities :

- Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of a demand planning function.

- Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.

- Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.

- Interact with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers.

- Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing and Customer Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.

- Use and maintain the Demand Planning tools as the primary forecasting system tool.

- Provide input to the Supply Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs.

- Closely coordinate and communicate customer action plans with supply planning

- Inventory Management review facilitation, actions follow up with business as well as SC team

- Track slow moving inventory and inform about goods likely to expire to sales head for taking extra steps for liquidation

- Production plan validation

- Dispatch and logistics management

- Demand forecasting:

o Create base forecast based on historical sales data (primary and secondary) and market intelligence

o Assimilate and collate bottom-up forecasts from Regional Teams for each Cluster/ Division

o Discuss base forecast and bottom-up forecasts with sales & marketing team and develop consensus forecast

o Upload consensus forecast in required templates/ tools and share with Supply Planning Team

o Ensure hygiene and maintenance of master data (inventory norms, transit lead time, outdated forecasts / orders, potential expiry / expired stock, unwanted sales orders / open deliveries, NPL indicators)

o Actively Participate in pre-S&OP and S&OP process and meetings and ensure adherence to stated timelines

Qualifications & Competencies

- Professional with MBA (Specialization in planning & Operation) with 4+ years of experience of managing/working in SC planning function in FMCG/Consumer Durables MNC organization.

- Must have experience of working in an SAP Environment and possess strong Excel skills.

- Must have strong data analytical skills

- Should be able to collaboratively work across functions / geographies (Regional/Global teams)

- Should have a continuous improvement mindset.

- Good communication is important

- Ability to deal with ambiguous challenges