Planning Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities:

*Create and maintain forecast models, incorporating, sales analysis, statistical analysis of actual performance vs planned performance, and understanding the reasons for differences between the forecast and actual sales.
*Be the integration point between the Category Team (responsible for the strategic direction of the category as well as responding to the day-to-day operational demand) and the S&OP/ Printer Way Planning team (responsible for placing, tracking, clearing, and costing of orders).
*Create and maintain high-level supplier purchase plans over a defined period (annual, seasonal, strategic buy) and lead the conversation with the supplier, internal category team and around these plans, the inputs going into them, and the potential risks and challenges.
*Translate the forecasting activities into plans to understand the Category performance against the monthly budgets and targets, understand which levers to influence to achieve the monthly targets.
*Continuously drive supply chain efficiencies and analyze the cost to understand what improvements can be made or changes in the way we order products to improve landed cost.
*Report on any risk stock (overstocks and out of stocks) and the impact thereof to the key stakeholders, including the category team, and to ensure appropriate action can be taken to mitigate against this risk.
*Prepare the high-level reports needed by the business and key stakeholders on a regular or Adhoc basis.
*Lead, mentor, and coach a high-performing planning team for the chilled category.

Key Skills
*Ability to achieve targets in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
*Ability to build and nurture trust with team members, customers and suppliers.
*Strong execution skills.
*Ability to communicate in a clear and confident manner.
*Ability to illicit cooperation from teams, management and external stakeholders.
*Experience building and cultivating effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders (internal & external).
*Effective conflict management and negotiation skills.
*Strong business acumen.
*Analytical thinker and problem solver.