Demand Planner

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In the European Union, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England, Portugal and Italy. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®.

**POSITION SCOPE**

**Demand Planning**: Create, develop and analyze sales forecast data by SKU at customer and ship to level within all areas of the organization, in order to achieve maximum contribution in terms of demand forecasting. Deliver detailed analytical and systems support to all levels of the business through the creation of reports and dashboards.

**Co-packers Supply Planning**: To determine the current and future supply capabilities and constraints in line with the demand plans and order book and provide a stock level in line with existing targets. Ownership of the rolling 13 weeks operational supply / inventory plans as well as 18 to 24 months monthly plan.

**POSITION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND KEY DELIVERABLES**

**Demand Planning**:

- Create, develop and maintain all sales forecasts across multiple time horizons and levels of aggregation in collaboration with the Sales Department.
- Development of the annual sales volume budget in collaboration with the Sales Department.
- Review, identify and resolve key forecast inaccuracy issues and demand variations.
- In depth analysis of historical sales data for trends, bias, promotions, seasonality, demand peaks.
- Produce KPI’s for FA, bias and periodic and ad-hoc reports for internal and external contacts.
- Management of the IBP tool forecast database ensuring it is updated and maintained.
- Use of various software including SAP, IBP and BI to aid reporting and analysis.
- Be part of and implement company projects to develop Demand Planning (namely statistical forecasting).

**Copacker Supply Planning**:

- To own and manage the Supply Planning, including capacity and inventory planning.
- Ensures effective execution of plans across copackers operations to meet forecasted and real demand.
- Manage the “order book” and “right stock in right place” to guarantee products are located to meet demand.

**DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Demand Planning**:
Business Systems Efficiency
- Act as the super-user for the IBP tool.
- Provide training for business users in the IBP tool.
- Regular communication with system specialists to improve functionality of software.

Collaborative Forecasting
- Regular interaction with sales managers to agree weekly demand phasing on the short term and monthly phasing of the next 18 to 24 months.
- Co-ordinate use of customer information.
- Regular customer communication regarding demand patterns and variations to forecast.
- Collaborate with customers on forecast sharing when available.

**Copacker Supply Planning**:
Capacity planning and production planning
- Translates demand plans weekly into effective supply plans showing requirements and constraints for the next 13 weeks and provides solutions to ensure supply.
- Tactical interaction with production scheduling and MRP planners.
- Ensures alignment of resources to ensure that demand is met on time and in full first time.
- Supports the NPD process ensuring new products are planned in a timely manner.
- Ensures daily control of order book so that stock is available for customer orders in a timely manner.

Problem resolution
- Ensures daily control Provides workable and pragmatic solutions to meet demand forecasts and orders from customers at lowest total cost.
- Optimizes inventory based on measured demand variability and production unreliability.
- Highlights demand and supply gaps and what needs to be done to fill these gaps.
- Prioritizes production and supply of product to meet customer demand and inventory.

**ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES)**
- High level of planning ability
- Technical expertise
- Highly numerate
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Pro-active and flexible manner
- Passion for achieving customer and business needs.
- Willing to challenge people in the business at any level.
- Effective team player
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively.
- Languages:

- Portuguese = Fluent
- English = Advanced

**ESSENTIAL WORK EXPERIENCES**
- Experience of planning in a busy and demanding commercial environment.
- Demonstrated capability for taking initiative and accountability.
- Proven customer service focus.
- Quality commitment contribution.
- Track record of working to strict deadlines and wit