Planning Manager

About the role

As Planning Manager, you play an integral role in leading the planning, purchasing and inventory controlling to optimize inventory levels whilst maintaining high service levels for Vallen's customers. You lead a team that develops and executes on a robust planning and procurement plan that is aligned to Vallen's business strategy and priorities. You engage and influence at all levels through your partnership with sales, logistics and many more functions.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and monitor supply chain planning strategies to control costs within budgetary limits, generate tactical savings, optimize inventory levels, and improve working capital while ensuring operational readiness to meet customer requirements
• Manage planning priorities, operational risks, and supply chain disruptions to support business continuity and service reliability
• Monitor and optimize inventory levels by minimizing excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory, including management of own-risk inventory and follow-up on depletion activities
• Establish and drive procurement and planning procedures for the acquisition, receiving, and tracking of goods to optimize quality, cost, and delivery performance while ensuring cost efficiency
• Develop and implement procurement and planning policies, procedures, and improvement plans to close operational gaps and enhance compliance, process efficiency, and ERP/MRP system utilization
• Coordinate closely with Procurement, Warehouse, Logistics, Operations, and Key Account/Sales teams to ensure timely replenishment, operational efficiency, and customer delivery fulfilment
• Build a high-performance team culture by leading, coaching, and developing the planning team while fostering teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across functions
• Ensure world-class customer service standards are consistently achieved through effective planning, communication, and operational support

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related discipline
• Experience in procurement of MRO products
• Strong business acumen and experience managing complex supply chains and cost models
• Ability to think strategically and communicate effectively with all levels of management
• Ability to manage ambiguity and apply problem-solving skills
• Ability to influence across multiple teams, creating effective internal business partnerships
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and work effectively under deadlines
• Ability to independently lead teams and execute on functional responsibilities