Supply Planning Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Supply Planning Specialist to join a dynamic operations team within a well-established organisation. Reporting to the Operations Manager, this role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end supply planning activities, ensuring optimal inventory availability, supporting the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, and coordinating procurement and inbound logistics to meet business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by consolidating demand inputs from regional commercial teams.
• Develop accurate demand forecasts using historical sales data, market intelligence, business trends, and promotional activities.
• Analyse demand patterns, forecast accuracy, and key variances, proactively identifying potential risks, opportunities, and supply constraints.
• Maintain and improve forecasting models while monitoring forecast accuracy and bias metrics.
• Partner closely with Sales, Customer Service, and Supply Planning teams to align demand and supply plans with business requirements.
• Lead supply planning discussions during monthly S&OP meetings, providing recommendations to optimise inventory and service levels.
• Plan and monitor inventory replenishment to ensure high product availability while maintaining healthy inventory levels and minimising excess stock.
• Review sales forecasts against market trends and escalate significant deviations or potential supply disruptions to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure inventory levels support customer fulfilment requirements while balancing working capital objectives.
• Collaborate with process owners to maintain and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs) in line with evolving business processes.
• Work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to maintain an efficient and resilient supply chain.
• Manage the end-to-end purchase order cycle, including purchase order creation, supplier confirmations, goods receipt processing, and system updates.
• Coordinate with suppliers to optimise shipment consolidation, freight methods, and delivery schedules while balancing cost and service requirements.
• Resolve purchase order and shipment discrepancies, including shortages, over-shipments, replacement orders, claims, credit notes, and invoice reconciliation.
• Work closely with Regulatory Affairs and other relevant departments to ensure imported products comply with all applicable regulatory and import requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Statistics, Logistics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum five years of relevant experience in supply planning, demand planning, or supply chain operations within a trading, distribution, or similar environment.
• Proven hands-on experience in demand planning, supply planning, procurement coordination, and shipping operations.
• Solid understanding of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and/or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Experience using ERP systems, preferably SAP.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP (or equivalent lookup functions), with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across functions.
• Demonstrates initiative, resilience, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.