Job Description

Our client, a global skin- and body-care brand based in Nairobi is urgently looking to hire an active Demand Planner central and West Africa to support their operations for the Central and West Africa Area.

ROLE PROFILE

To provide overall coordination and supervision for demand, supply and customer service issues for French West and Central African Markets; also use effectively information gathered from planned sales, promotions, marketing, finance and others sources to forecast accurate volume as well as for optimizing stock purchases to support service level/stock coverage targets and eliminate out of stock situations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure accurate sales forecast calculation based on the interaction with sales team and Brand managers and the use of appropriate forecasting tools for each brand
• Designs an 18 months rolling forecasts by month and use it as a basis to conduct forecast maintenance and review for markets.
• Ensures the compliance of sales forecast with business plans and regularly update the Finance and Supply Chain Controller on available stock.
• Designs and implements alert based planning to highlight and correct potential supply bottlenecks in the short and medium term.
• To communicate regularly and effectively with other departments to gather relevant information and inform them about stock situation.
• To work closely with forwarding agent to track shipments from PC warehouses to port of loading to complete the customer service function and facilitate invoicing.
• Ensure effective working relationship with distributors in French speaking countries to provide them all relevant service solutions(clearing, invoicing, customer services queries)
• Ensure a regular reporting locally or regionally in an accurate and timely manner

SUPERVISORY DUTIES

• Assigns duties to and monitors activities of immediate team members to ensure achievement of performance targets.
• Identifies the training needs of immediate team members and organizes or recommends appropriate training for them.
• Assesses the performance of immediate team members and reviews assessments for lower level employees.
• Administers discipline affecting immediate team members in accordance with the company’s disciplinary code and procedure.

DEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS

• Maintains advisory and consultative relations with sales team and brand Managers

Required Skills or Experience

COMPETENCIES

Educational Qualification

• University degree (studying or qualified within Logistics and supply chain management)
• Business/supply chain degree

Technical

• Able to analyze large amounts of information
• Preferable work experience of SAP/APO
• Ability to speak French is a key requirement
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel & Outlook
• At least 3 years of commercial experience preferably in an FMCG environment

Managerial

• Ability to build a cohesive work team and motivate teams members
• Ability to plan, organize & follow up work activities
• Ability to negotiate effectively in decision maker environment
  ability to build strong and long term relationship and networks

Personality

• Assertiveness- ability to articulate views and decisions and stick to them where necessary.
• Trustworthiness – ability to conduct self in a manner which elicits trust, respect and confidence of team members.
• Good presentation and verbal communication skills
• Ability to deal with conflicts
• Ability to build effective internal and external partnerships