Exports Planner

Job description

MAIN JOB PURPOSE: Unilever has set up a new Africa Hub office as the latest move in an ongoing drive to grow its business across the African continent and help create a Brighter Future for Africa with its portfolio of iconic brands. The Exports Planner will manage the planning and logistics movement of all Africa Hub export shipments out of the Ocean hub

JOB SUMMARY
• Consolidate APO demand across customers to create shipments for Africa HUB customers
• Weekly download/check customers' requirements and upload projected deliveries
• In advance determine requirements to shipping documents for export customs clearance, including weights, volumes, description of products, delivery terms, duties, tariffs, etc.
• Prepare clear instructions for brokers/transport companies/drivers
Create, monitor and complete export shipments in Excel to ensure timely, correct information is available to all parties concerned
• Update file daily with shipment status information for maximum accuracy
• Telecons with warehouses about update supporting documents
• Telecons with customers/transport companies/brokers for new export routes
• Prepare and gather/scan necessary documentation from all departments concerned for customer orders shipping
• Submit accurate export shipping documentation to customs broker in time
• Ensure that the proper paperwork aligns to compliance requirements of specific country/customer
• Send original shipping documents (COOs, invoices, certificates, etc.) by courier mail upon customer's requests to ensure smooth and timely import clearance. Unilever Rus provides special letter of attorney for documents sign
• Manage non-standard export shipments (return/free of charge deliveries of rejected raw/pack materials, re-export deliveries)
• Manage requests certificates of origin for further provision to governmental agencies
• Submit/send original /or scanned invoices to customers for post payments/ prepayments, on time and in compliance with relevant local, country and international law and process
• Process payments to suppliers (customs brokers) for customs clearance and warehousing services provided by creating purchase orders in ARIBA system (Buying role)
• Book and confirm shipment space with carriers as appropriate (for sea exports)
• Send pre-advises and scanned set documentation for all customers
• Monitor all export deliveries, all changes and book slots for loading at the warehouse
• Ordering / document preparation / sending samples of goods to customers by requirement
• End to end monitoring of customer payments along with Customer facing and MSO finance

• To be the main point of contact for the HUB manager on all export Customer service issues
• Engage export MSO's and ensure that pre-agreed parameters are adhered to (quantities/Lot sizes and release dates)
• Build strong relationships with customer facing and COM teams to ensure correct orders shared
• Build strong relationships with Imports planners and SA SU production planners/Supply planners to ensure stock availability
• Ensure correct transfer prices applied and updated and resolve issues and queries

• Build and maintain a strong relationship with service providers to ensure required legal documentation is processed on time to achieve high service levels

• Analysis and report on MSO/Customer service(OTIF)
• Recommend process improvement opportunities
• KPI Analysis - Loss Tree Analysis - YTD vs YTG (Inv, BW)
• 3PL Performance Management: Lead Inventory portion of weekly SLA performance with 3PLs to ensure performance
• Ensure structural approach and management to eliminate top losses rather that daily incident management
• Ensure SOPs for all processes exist and are signed off and followed
• Ensure robust quality management processes and no inadvertent stock releases to the trade
• Analyze the Weekly Inventory Scorecard and ensure robust investigation and actions plans are in place where red
• Bi-Annual Stock Count - Prepare inventory team for the stock count. Attend the count and perform an Audit during the count. (Variance tolerance of 0.02%)
• Team performance – daily review on action list and collaboration

KEY REQUIREMENTS
• A completed Degree in Supply Chain or equivalent
• SAPICS Diploma in Inventory Management or equivalent will be an advantage
• 3-5 years Export Planning and Sourcing from South Africa across Africa and International countries within FMCG/ Manufacturing industry
• Proven international planning experience dealing with Suppliers
• *Must have proficient Customs/ Clearance/ Exports/ Duty and Cross boarder experience
• Stakeholder and Supplier management experience
• Proficient Supplier; Material; Production and Projection background planning experience
• Good working knowledge of Finance
• Good mathematical ability and problem solving skills
• Good working knowledge of SAP