APAC - Demand Planning Manager

Overview

• Demand Planning Manager – APAC is responsible for overseeing demand forecasting activities within the region. Working closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance, to develop accurate demand forecasts. Reviews plans and conducts trend analysis, identifying opportunities and risks, effectively communicates to supply planners, and works closely with sub-region demand planners for base as well as the upside and downside versions of the forecast.
• The role is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and optimization of demand planning processes and methodologies in the region, in close collaboration with SC COE team. Working with cross-functional teams to standardize best practices, streamline workflows, and improve forecast accuracy.

Specific & essential duties: 

• Partner with SC COE team to identify process gaps, develop and implement standardized demand planning processes and workflows to ensure consistency and efficiency across APAC organization. Lead process improvement initiatives in the region to enhance forecast accuracy. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance demand forecasting processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, finance, supply chain, and IT, to gather input and feedback on demand planning processes and requirements.
• Provide training and support to demand planning teams in the region to ensure compliance with standardized processes and methodologies.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and workshops to drive alignment on demand planning goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Overseeing process execution by subregional demand planners.
• Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and other relevant information to develop demand forecasts and identify demand patterns.
• Analyze forecast accuracy and adjust forecasting models and demand plan volumes as needed based on changes in market conditions, customer behavior, and other factors.
• Understand and manage statistical models to continuously increase the baseline forecast. Support demand planners in implementation and managing statistical forecasting.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to gather insights into market dynamics, promotional activities, and other factors that may impact demand.
• Document and challenge forecast assumptions based on process input analysis, forecast modelling and monthly updates. Provide root-cause analysis to problem solve and seek resolution to issues preventing stability in demand plan.
• Lead the Monthly Demand Review Meeting with key stakeholders to get the volume Unconstrained Final Consensus Demand Plan. Participate in and contribute to monthly S&OP meetings to refine demand plan for supply chain inventory and production planning.
• Provide regular reports and analysis on demand forecast performance based on volumes to stakeholders within the organization.
• Collaborate with supply chain and logistics teams to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and production schedules, procurement plans, and distribution strategies.
• Ensure proper maintenance of master data in IBP Demand Planning tool to provide an accurate forecast and ensure data integrity.

Competencies

• This role requires strong leadership skills, process improvement expertise, and a deep understanding of demand planning principles, as well as strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience with IBP, SAP, and BI or equivalent systems in the areas of Demand Planning
• Good understanding of statistical forecasting, ability to work on different models and adjust parameters to achieve best results.
• Good understanding of Multi-view forecasting principles, ability to manage baseline forecast and incremental business intelligence/market assumptions.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills to create effective interactions with multiple functional groups and levels of the organization.  Includes the ability to present and sell ideas, plans and recommendations through strong personal influence building skills that lead to consensus decisions and plans. Ability to influence the Regional President and their Direct Reports in reaching the Final Consensus Demand Plan.
• Experience in evaluating current process performance to drive best practices
• Experience in managing work using data and metrics, utilizing KPIs to manage process and drive improvement, including ensuring valid planning metric feedback is delivered every cycle to stakeholders
• Proven experience in project management to manage driving project deliverables within budget across multiphase projects over long periods of time
• Strong leadership skills
• Motivated, self-starter that can execute with minimal direction
• Ability to develop credibility, maintain relationships and operate effectively with multiple levels of the organization
• Ability to plan and coordinate multiple projects and work initiatives at the same time
• Ability to clearly articulate/discuss complex information with the site (all levels of the organization), discern their needs, and develop solutions to address those needs
• Financial understanding and ability to complete routine cost / benefit analysis