Demand Planner Central

About the role:

The goal of the position is to improve the supply chain service & performance by being a key partner in the S&OP cross-functional process. The demand planner will manage, capture and translate the demand signal into desired supply & service requirements in close collaboration with local & regional commercial, R&D, Finance and OSCO stakeholders. You will increase visibility and communication and ultimately improve service levels at the lowest cost. Externally you will build a profound understanding of the customer’ need and help drive collaboration and intimacy with key customers.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the demand planning process for Cluster on Industrial Accounts, Regional Accounts and Distributors & Artisans.
• Take overall responsibility for the demand plan figures within the Demand Planning system, ensuring they are representative of the S&OP latest cycle consensus plan (constrain the forecast when needed)
  • Cooperate closely with sales in order to understand and reflect the latest business dynamics into the final forecast
  • Be commercial’s main challenger when making sure forecasts reflect the most realistic demand outlook
  • Reconcile top-down, bottom-up demand and gain consensus on new forecast assumptions
  • Intensively work with business partners (Commercial & Financial analysts) on risks and opportunities, communicate them appropriately to SC counterparts (provide context beyond the numbers)
  • Team up with the GBS demand planning team:

• Give guidance on how and where to enrich the forecast according to the latest forecast review discussions with sales
• Discuss and understand what is needed to to improve forecast accuracy and forecast bias + translate into action plan
  • Keep track of gaps with budgets and be able to explain
  • Own the full local forecast construction process while making sure the monthly forecast cycle deadlines are met:
• Take the lead in the forecast validation with the Cluster managing director
• Handover  the local forecast and relevant information towards regional demand planning for the regional sign-off
  • Work closely together with Finance on the YTG/YEF, budgeting and MTP process
• Coordinate phase in phase out for key innovation and product launches
• Collaborate with global supply chain organization on the consolidation of supply risks and early warnings for any supply disruption + communicate proactively to the sales community
• Contribute in reaching the right inventory health (incl. obsolescence) via active monitoring of stocks at risk and by setting up action plans with local commercial stakeholders
• Lead & manage the portfolio health assessment and optimization for your portfolio
• Act as a key contributor to the Value Creation Program identified for key/strategic customers (focus on improving service jointly, avoid cost/create shared value and bring visibility on ESG initiatives.  This will require a close collaboration both internally and externally including frequent customer visits / organizing workshops.

About you:

• +5 years experience in integrated supply chain and ideally planning, managing a portfolio with high product and channel complexity
• Degree in business administration, supply chain or related field
• English fluent
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, APO, BW reporting, PowerBi) is a plus
• Good knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
• Able to work in virtual teams and cross-functional teams.  Ability to balance day-to-day detail with long term helicopter view.
• Strong networking, stakeholder and influencing skills
• Positive communicator, easily approachable for all levels in the organization, confident to work with senior leadership
• Solid analytical skills with ability to dig into raw data and interpret them to larger audiences

We offer:

• Employment on a regular basis in the sweetest company in the world.
• Annual bonus based on your work results.
• Lunch card to be used for groceries and restaurants.
• Private medical care in Lux Med (basic package fully financed by BC).
• Fit Profit sports card co-financed by BC.
• PPE: we care about your future, and we save money for your retirement.
• Cafeteria Program as a part of Social Fund.
• Group life insurance.
• Hybrid working model: min. 8 days in the office a month.
• As part of our work-life balance culture, we can start work between 7 am and 10 am.
• Free consultation with a lawyer once a quarter.
• Chocolate! Yes, surprising but we have chocolate in the office, for Christmas, BC’s Birthday, and many other occasions during the year.
• And if chocolate is still not enough, you can join one of our theme clubs, where together with other employees we develop our passions and interests.
• Daily delivery of fresh fruits and veggies to the office.
• You can purchase our sweet products with a special discount.
• Relax zone in the office and plenty of options to choose from: PlayStation 5, football table, pool table, Ping-Pong, library, table games, and massage chairs.
• Sport @work? Sure! We have treadmills and indoor exercise bikes with a laptop station.
• We like to party as much as we like chocolate! We have integration budgets we can use for team events.
• Forever Chocolate and Event Team: you can join them and have a real influence on social life in BC and CSR activities.