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Demand Planner
| Closing Date | 2024/09/13 |
| Reference Number | RCL240903-6 |
| Company | RCL Foods |
| Job Title | Demand Planner |
| Functions | Supply Chain |
| Job Type Classification | Permanent |
| Location – Town / City | Westville |
| Location – Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Location – Country | South Africa |
Job Description
At RCL FOODS we see and do things differently. We think bigger, work smarter, and collectively Our Talent Team is looking for someone who is brilliant at the basics to fill the role of Demand Planner the role will be based in Westville.
The purpose of the role is to drive and facilitate the demand planning and where applicable, demand management process, in order to enable visibility of expected demand to the business and in particular to the supply chain. This forward forecast will be used to improve the business decision making process around product mix, product prioritisation and cost / profitability choices; and to drive up customer service levels by enabling the supply planners to plan out unnecessary operational costs and supply risks. The role will require a strong working relationship with customer, marketing, supply planning, distribution, and commercial teams.
Minimum Requirements
2 Years Demand Planning experience ideal
2-3 previous Supply Chain experience would be an advantage, particularly in Supply Planning or Distribution Planning; or Customer Marketing experience
Bachelor of Commerce/Economics Degree, or related Supply Chain National Diploma (e.g.: SAPICS CPIM)
Duties & Responsibilities
Functional Strategy into Action Operationalisation
Work closely with customer, marketing, and commercial teams along with other senior managers in the Supply Chain and Customer teams to cocreate the forward demand plan based on a 1-2 year’s view of requirements. This will be used as key input into the business volume plans to be used for budget and quarterly planning
Facilitate integrated supply chain delivery by managing relationships and interaction within the extended supply chain, distribution and customer teams.
Demand Analysis:
On a weekly and monthly basis analyse actual demand to generate the forward forecast, make recommendations, and drive continuous improvements in order to gain concensus with cross functional teams on the forward forecast (including base & event)
Understand what is causing differences between what was forecasted vs what was actually ordered, and use this to drive discussions with the front-end team, challenging their assumptions and making suggestions on how to improve accuracy of the forecast
For price sensitive product groups (like value chicken and sugar) ensure that pricing information and competitor information is gathered as part of understanding gaps to forecast, as well as impact on stock builds or stock shortages.
Generating Base Demand:
Analyse historical demand and remove anomalies (including outliers) from the norm using historical information, knowledge of the category and by getting input from the customer teams, in order to generate a sound base demand forecast
Identify the most appropriate statistical forecasting model for each product group in order to generate an accurate base forecast, 12 months rolling forward.
Generate the base demand plan using the most appropriate statistical forecasting algorithm and make adjustments where necessary
Understand any variance between actual customer demand and the statistical forecast and make appropriate challenges, changes and recommendations to the base forecast
Events/Promotions:
Use the promotions grid and related discussion that are provided by the customer team as input into the event forecast
Work closely with the customer team to document the assumptions for each promotion, driving clarity on volume, price and customers
Challenge all promotional volume increases when history shows that these have not been achieved before; or if historical the promotions have delivered higher volumes, also challenge to get the volumes increased.
Present the proposed forecast along with assumptions to get a consensus forecast to be used by the business. This will be done at the monthly Demand Planning meeting.
Publishing and Reporting on the Forecast
Publish the agreed forecast in the appropriate format to ensure transparency and one set of numbers. This includes ensuring that the Demand Planning tool (Barton) is correct and that these numbers are correctly interfaced to the Group Reporting Cube. The Fixed Forecast will be used by the business to measure the effectiveness of the Demand Planning Process, while the Operational Forecast may be changed more regularly to enable the Supply Planning teams to make better priority decisions should the actual demand be significantly different to what was initially thought.
Using the agreed forecasting KPI’s (Forecast Bias, Forecast Sku Compliance and Customer Service level) to drive improvement in the forecasts and to minimise volatility. Use these KPI’s to assist when analysing the historical data while generating the forecast
Publish the forecasting KPI’s in the agreed format, in line with the agreed timeline for weekly reports and monthly scorecards
Interfacing to the Supply Planning & Distribution Replenishment Planning
The Operational Forecast will be interfaced to the Supply Planning and Distribution teams daily (including distribution service providers like Vector, SuperGroup and Clover) in order to drive improved priority or scheduling decisions in both Production and Replenishment Planning to depots.
The demand team needs to liase with the Replenishment Planning teams to ensure that at the national sku level, all numbers match. Demand Planning should also assist when understanding why the national forecast does not split out correctly at a depot level.
Work closely with supply planning to understand stock builds and space constraints.
Promotional Effectiveness:
Work with the Customer team to determine promotional activities volume and track the effectiveness of the promotion (costs vs. promotional volume increment). Question the promotional volume based on the success/failure of past promotions
Innovation and Discontinuation Management:
Work with Marketing, Customer, Supply Planning, R&D and commercial teams to develop the anticipated forecast for new products using appropriate forecast copied from other products plus appropriate market intelligence (eg: store listing, pipe fill, DC ordering)
Document all assumptions
Track and publish agreed KPI’s for each new innovation
When discontinuing a product, work closely with the Customer and Supply Planning team to ensure accurate bleedout forecasts to enable a smooth run-out process
Portfolio Management:
Complete the data analysis to provide input into discussion on portfolio management
Review the product portfolio at least annually and raise the discussion with business teams on where opportunities exist to remove SKU’s from the portfolio using agreed guidelines.
Complete the necessary documentation and workflows for all proposed discontinued products, once the business unit team has approved all costs where applicable for the discontinuation. This will ensure the systems are appropriately updated
S&OP Business Planning Process:
The S&OP business planning process begins with the demand plan.
Work closely with the Demand Planning manager to deliver the DEM Planning pack, ensuring that the information is available on time and is accurate
Using the forecasting and customer service KPI’s, work closely with the Supply Planning team to deliver improvements in customer service, particularly by providing insight into stock holding by branches to ensure that promotions are delivered
Provide the required data to the Commercial team in the appropriate format to enable the annual and quarterly budget planning process
Master Data & Hierarchies:
Maintain the product hierarchy master data in accordance with both demand planning and business requirements.
Maintain the master data integrity for Random Weight products, as well as alternate units of measure (eg: litres and dozens) to deliver an accurate forecast conversion between cases and tons, as well as conversions to alternate units of measures (eg: litres and dozens).
Manage the master data integrity through exception reporting to avoid delays in demand planning tools ability to forecast at SKU and customer level.
Provide input into Customer Hieracharies when requested.
Procurement Specialist (Sourcing)
| Closing Date | 2024/09/08 |
| Reference Number | RCL240821-1 |
| Company | RCL Foods |
| Job Title | Procurement Specialist (Sourcing) |
| Functions | Procurement/Sourcing |
| Job Type Classification | Permanent |
| Location – Town / City | Westville |
| Location – Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Location – Country | South Africa |
Job Description
RCL Foods is searching for a Sourcing Specialist with a strong commercial background to join our Group Services Division. This position will be based at our National Office in Westville, Durban and report to the Ingredient’s Sourcing Manager. Key Categories being managed include but are not limited to Fruit & Vegetables, Fats & Oils, Eggs, Starches and binders, Emulsifiers, other ingredients.
The purpose of this role is to support the Sourcing Manager to strategically source, negotiate, manage and evaluate Group contracts within the specific category ensuring that Business needs are met, and the best value is negotiated for and received by the Group. To facilitate increased contract coverage and spend across the Group within the category through constant engagement with business line managers and the buyers and analysis of spend behaviors
Minimum Requirements
Degree in commerce/ finance, supply chain management or a related field
3-5 years’ experience within a sourcing, project management and commercial management environment
Analytical skills with demonstrated knowledge of economic indicators, cost drivers and cost analysis
Project management experience
Demonstrated success in developing and fostering relationships with suppliers while driving lower costs, superior performance, and continuous improvement, particularly within the specific category
Confidence to interact and work in cross functional teams
Advanced Excel skills
Pragmatism – with an ability to think conceptually while maintaining a cost-conscious and practical approach to using time and resources
Self-management – with attention to detail and strong ability to execute and follow-through
Valid Code EB driver’s license
Certified in COUPA CSO or similar procurement platforms would be desirable but not essential.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Support
Within the assigned category of spend, have responsibility for understanding the category strategy and plans, working with the Sourcing Manager to deliver category analysis, sourcing exercises and general reviews of spend.
Develop short, mid and long-term strategies for the various sub-categories ensuring delivery at the most competitive cost and risk is mitigated.
Methodologies such as vendor rationalization, utilizing technology and flexible solutions to enhance user experience and minimize financial impact.
Collaborate with site-based buyers to ensure Group strategies and policies are applied locally, to assess opportunities, and to drive performance improvements.
Proactively drive regular engagement with the Business regarding its immediate and longer-term category procurement requirements and the extent to which these are being met.
Operational Management
Drive Group Sourcing Projects:
Contribute to Group Sourcing Savings Targets by working on new projects as well as contract extensions & renegotiations.
Source new items and suppliers based on the specifications provided by the Business by researching the supplier marketplace and obtaining samples for testing by requesting Functions.
Analyse information within the SOURCE TO PAY system to identify opportunities to leverage spend across the group as well as source alternative suppliers.
Produce reports and present information to relevant Functions to highlight potential sourcing or saving opportunities and update the Sourcing Manager on actions where applicable.
Actively monitor and facilitate the update of price lists for goods and services in the catalogues within the SOURCE TO PAY system within the assigned category of spend.
Negotiate with the incumbent suppliers to maintain competitive prices, benchmarking costs against other suppliers where necessary.
Drive Group Contract Spend:
Achieve Contract Spend Targets across all ERP systems.
Highlight and communicate compliance issues relating to adherence to the Group procurement policies.
Review and analyze all requests for new contracts and recommend their approval to the Sourcing Manager if the supplier is financially and ethically sound and there is a valid reason for introducing a new contract.
Actively monitor the suppliers being used within SOURCE TO PAY ensuring orders are placed with preferred suppliers and under negotiated contracts.
Category Spend Management:
Ensure Top Spend Categories are covered by Category Strategies.
Legal Expertise:
Ability to independently draft service and supply legal agreements for the Group.
Thorough understanding of the contract management process, i.e engage with the business to identify and define the scope of work, update the schedule of prices and payment terms, define the service levels, price escalation clauses, etc.
Prepare contract amendments on a frequent basis.
Address and resolve amendments to the standard legal terms and conditions, prepare risk assessments for limitation of liability, etc.in conjunction with Group Legal.
Ability to hold the Supplier accountable for non-conformances/ deviation from performing the services and supply of goods as stipulated in the contract through remediation or notice of termination where relevant.
Tender/ RFQ Management
Solicit and evaluate proposals for Group contracts.
Manage the administrative aspects of RFI, RFQ, RFPs, tenders, e-Auctions for Group contracts in the specific category.
Prepare RFI, RFQ, RFPs, tenders, e-Auctions and compile tender analysis/ evaluation schedules.
Coordinate invitations for tender and RFQ’s to the relevant suppliers.
Communicate RFI, RFQ, RFPs, tenders, e-Auctions outcome to the business.
Market Analysis and Forecasting
Evaluate market conditions to develop sourcing strategies, maintain/ improve quality and influence cost controls.
Effectively communicate with internal cross functional teams on the current and future status of products and services markets.
Research potential and current suppliers to keep abreast of market/ procurement conditions, new technology and makes recommendations to improve supplier base and/or purchasing method.
Forecast price trends and their impact on future activities using a forecasting tool.
Conduct presentations about market analysis and possible growth.
Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
Report & Evaluation of key top 25 suppliers’ performance against SLAs, their BBBEE rating and review of their financial risk
Evaluate and ensure potential suppliers can meet the specified requirements.
Negotiate the lowest possible cost for the products and/or services balanced against the optimum quality and schedule needs.
Advise team members and/or management on the appropriate supplier to be used.
Monitor Supplier performance against SLA’s.
Maintain positive Supplier relationships.
Technical Expertise
Provide ongoing advice and support on best practice to ensure continuous improvement in category contract sourcing and vendor management.
Provide technical expertise and training to internal customers and colleagues.
Develop specialist knowledge on assigned category and identify opportunities to deliver best value solutions and make recommendations on preferred strategies to the Sourcing Manager.
SAP Enablement
Work with the master data team to ensure the SAP master data related to the procurement category is accurate and up to date.
Arrange for all new catalogues and suppliers to be promptly loaded on the SAP system.
SHEQ and Sustainability Management
Administer all documentation relevant to category quality assurance and conformance.
Update and maintain the approved category supplier list for the Group.
Support internal and external audit processes and provide any necessary documentation.
All the best with your applications.
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