Demand Planning Manager

1. Business Forecasting & Planning

• Build a comprehensive business forecast for Saudi Arabia and Export markets by distributor/channel, in both units and value .
• Lead the monthly forecast process with Commercial Managers and Key Account Managers, ensuring accuracy of baseline, promotion, and new launch volumes.
• Aggregate forecasts from all channels and analyze sell-in, sell-out, and stock-in-trade data to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities.
• Maintain a rolling 12-month forecast aligned with brand strategy, retailer dynamics, and RGM (Revenue Growth Management) principles.
• Ensure forecasts are validated, updated, and communicated to stakeholders in line with budget and trend deadlines.

2. Production Planning

• Translate approved forecasts into annual and monthly production plans in SAP, considering historical sales, current trends, and material availability.
• Prepare quarterly raw and packaging material calculations to support timely purchasing for upcoming production cycles.
• Create and review material purchase requests based on SAP planning results and sales forecasts.
• Monitor and adjust production schedules to address near-expiry materials, new orders, or changes in market demand.
• Track daily and monthly production performance versus plan, ensuring timely completion of manufacturing targets.

3. Inventory & Stock Management

• Monitor inventory levels of Finished Goods, Raw Materials, and Packaging Materials to prevent shortages or overstocks.
• Align with warehouse and supply teams to ensure smooth flow of materials and finished goods dispatch as per monthly production plans.
• Conduct annual safety stock reviews for accuracy and alignment with lead times and demand volatility.
• Support stock-in-trade optimization for key distributors and retailers, aligning targets with business strategy.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Production teams to ensure integrated business planning.
• Provide objective feedback and propose adjustments to commercial forecasts based on factual data.
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding forecast accuracy, demand changes, and production priorities .
• Ensure alignment between business planning tools , production systems (SAP), and reporting dashboards (Excel / Power BI).

5. Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain forecast accuracy dashboards and plan vs. production reports .
• Perform root-cause analysis for forecast deviations and highlight corrective actions.
• Present monthly business performance reports summarizing forecast accuracy, production output, and material utilization.