demand PlannerSan Miguel Corporation

JOB SUMMARY
Demand Management is a highly iterative process that involves driving to a revenue and profit target through prioritization of customers, channels, products, geographies and the demand stimulation programs available to the business. One segment of this is Demand Forecasting which is essentially a linear process of translating input assumptions into a forecast of expected sales.
The main goal of the Demand Planning and Management Planner is to be instrumental in optimizing inventory levels, managing costs and ensuring customers are kept happy by implementing dynamic demand and supply management best-of-breed techniques, technologies and practices.
As a Demand Planning and Management practitioner, it is the Planner's responsibility to balance internal, economic and technological factors to fulfill demands of customer base, better leverage past product performance and more effectively predict and manage replenishment, align price and profit margins, and maintain a leaner, more profitable supply chain overall.
Demand Planning and Management is also the integration point of the supply chain and commercial organization. Thus, the Planner must exhibit good leadership skills to continuously build credibility of the Demand Planning and Management Team within the business unit and among cross-functional groups such as Supply Planning, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing and Logistics.
SKILLS
Strong interpersonal skills
Proven capability to speak his/her mind and explain the thought rationale
Convincing power and capability
Ability to work with other people, as well as ready and willing to compromise when necessary
Highly collaborative
Relationship-builder
Built developmental skills
Has a passion for learning and the ability to keep up with new developments in the demand management discipline
Solid quantitative background
Ability to understand numbers and trends and translate it into a common language (layman's term)
Background in statistics and advanced forecasting techniques
Extensive spreadsheet analysis and strong mathematical abilities
Proficient in relevant computer applications
Mastery of MS Excel and Powerpoint
Knowledgeable in ERP statistical software packages (e.g. APO or Demantra)
Developed communication skills
Ability to effectively and efficiently exchange information and listen to others
Ability to "sell" the forecast and corresponding assumptions to key stakeholders to get their commitment and buy-in
Organizational skills
Good understanding of the business culture and the demand planning's place in the organization
EXPERIENCE
Advanced Demand Planning strategic practitioner with at least 3 years relevant experience in:
Demand Management
Manage the development, review and implementation of an accurate forecast at different relevant levels for use in financial, production and strategic planning processes. Per SKU at the following levels:
National
Channel
Area
Key Account
Key Distributors
Champion Gap Analysis and Risk Management to promote informed decision-making amongst key stakeholders.
Gap Analysis
"Gap" analysis involves analyzing current market offering to assess the extent to which they meet customer demands. Demand side gaps involve a market situation where consumers are not satisfied buying what is available-usually either because the level of service provided is not adequate or because the offering is too expensive. Supply side gaps, in contrast, involve firms that provide services that are needed, but ones that can be met elsewhere at lower prices.
Risk Management
Risk Management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. In Demand Management, risks can come from any fluctuation in factors considered while coming up with the consensus forecast (e.g. unseen aggressive marketing campaigns of direct competitor, delays in product launches due to shipment delays of raw materials, etc.)
Highlight to management areas of risk and opportunity to the business plan due to internal, economic and technological factors.
Internal: The Brand, Market Segment, Product Mix, Corporate Culture, Sales Performance, Geographic Presence, Customer Satisfaction Level
Economic: The Industry, Business Climate, Market Share, Financial Performance, Unemployment Rates, IT Expenditures
Technological: Current Install Base, Hardware or Software Changes, Price/Performance vs. Competition, Benchmarks
Spearhead and communicate trend analysis to identify gaps between forecast and actual sales as part of Synergy Meeting inputs. Analyze, publish and recommend possible action plans based on the detailed root-cause analysis of each SKU, account (MT and GT), Key accounts and distributor account level, depot level.
Forecasting
Lead the assembly and analysis of all data pertinent to creating the sales forecast (historical sales, market trends, seasonality, promotions, and eventually distributor/key account sales data and inventory levels).
Develop, document, update and challenge the factors and assumptions supporting the demand plan. Understand demand segmentation driven by sales volume and demand variability to determine inventory and forecasting strategies as well as action plans to reduce forecast variation.
Drive improvements in forecasting methodologies and techniques (e.g. establishment of Sources of Sales which segments demand drivers between distribution and average order per customer).
Distribution: defines the target customer base at a given point in time (e.g. for SMIS, this is equivalent to their S&D Blue Print)
Average Order: defines the volume consumption or sell-in per customer at a given point in time (e.g. for SMIS, this is equivalent to their Volume per Outlet or VPO)
Implement new product demand management with emphasis on committed penetration levels, pipelining trends and supply risk assessment and management.
Integrated Business Planning and Management (IBPM, formerly known as S&OP)
Spearhead monthly pre-Demand Review discussion with National Direct Sales Manager, National Distributors Sales Manager and Product Managers to align forecast with detailed, updated plans and programs from Sales and Marketing.
Co-facilitate monthly Demand Review meeting along with Demand Planning and Management Manager. Demand Review Meeting is an executive level assembly owned by the Category General Managers and participated in by the National Sales Manager, Supply Chain General Manager, Group Product Managers and Supply Planning Managers. As co-facilitator of this meeting, the Planner is expected to do the following:
Effectively facilitate the discussion to arrive at a consensus plan
Communicate the consensus plan details to key stakeholders
Promote exception management of key issues or challenges
Collaboration
Promote collaboration amongst IBPM stakeholders to aid in balancing supply and demand to achieve the optimal mix of customer responsiveness and production stability.
Regularly review over sales support parameters and recommend appropriate strategies.
Negotiation
Lead the development and evaluation of scenario planning and simulation instance to resolve demand/supply imbalances. Scenario planning is a
method that some organizations use to make flexible long-term plans. Simulation instance, on the other hand, is similar to "what-if" analysis wherein different sets of assumptions are used to come up with the most viable plan to be used for a specific period of time.
Enterprise Business Process
Promote KPI-driven performance by formulating improvement strategies using demand-related performance metrics (e.g. forecast accuracy, unit bias, and demand volatility) as guide. Understand impact of demand KPIs to topline financial KPIs (i.e. Revenue, NIAT and ROFE). Identify and communicate to stakeholders reasons for variance and agree on specific action plans to hit KPI targets.
Develop and maintain documentation and standard operating procedures for demand planning processes and systems.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLCM)
The process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal. PLCM integrates people, data, processes and business systems and provides a product information backbone for companies and their extended enterprise.
Product Portfolio Understanding
Have working knowledge of the company's product portfolio. The role each brand plays in the total portfolio. Identify segments that drive the company and/or industry volume, revenue and profitability.
Recommend optimum size of line based on the above and support SKU Rationalization initiatives through relevant analysis. SKU Rationalization is an analytical process used to determine the merits of adding, retaining, or deleting items in a product portfolio.
Product Profitability
Perform product mix analysis. Product Mix Analysis is used to assess the realistic demand volume based known indicators such as contribution margin, and average unit volume per account/distributor. Product Mix Analysis aims to ensure that the market demand is met and the company's profit is maximized.
Internal Market/SKU Segmentation Logic
Establish segment-specific demand assumptions (e.g. cannibalization, transferable demand, etc.)
APTITUDE AND ATTITUDE
Has strong sense of ownership
Results-driven
Results-oriented
Ability to lead cross-functional groups
Proven capability to understand, manage and change the perspective of their counterparts
Pro-active
Analytic and detail-oriented
Integrated skills and knowledge
Contributes expertise on risk management and assessment
Collaborative and open-minded
COMPETENCY
Competent: Understands the work and can determine priorities to reach goals.
Proficient: Oversees all aspects of the work and can prioritize based on situational aspects
TRAINING & EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Training
Demand Management
Supply Chain Management
Advanced IBPM or S&OP
Demantra, SAP APO or Equivalent
Project Management
Advanced MS Excel
Educational Background
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Management, Business Management or Supply Chain Management
San Miguel Corporation

Pasig City, Metro Manila
Permanent
Full-time