Requirements Planner

Job description

SALARY: Up to £39,000

MAIN JOB PURPOSE:
Do you want to be a part of growing iconic multi-million euro, market-leading brands in the UK's largest FMCG Company? To work with some of the world's most loved brands (Dove, Lynx, PG Tips, Magnum, Persil, Hellmann's, to name a few) that are sold in 190 countries and used by 2 billion people daily?

We are looking for an ambitious Requirements Planner with talent, passion and integrity to join the UK & Ireland Supply Chain Planning team. We are looking for someone with the drive and the skills to join Unilever and help realise our ambition to continue to delight consumers in a responsible and sustainable way.
We want people that challenge the way we do things and bring new ideas to the table. You would be joining an agile, flexible and diverse organization that strives to live our values and build a positive performance culture.

As a member of our Planning community based in Leatherhead, you would be responsible for managing a portfolio of our products in our Chilled Foods Category.

Strong team work is vital as you work with the sales and factory teams to ensure we are manufacturing what we plan to sell.
We are looking for logical, proactive people with an inclination for problem solving and continuous questioning of how things could be improved.

JOB SUMMARY

· Management of supply of all SKUs within a given portfolio through consultation with the USCC (Unilever Supply Chain Company), Customer Development, Marketing, Category and Demand Planning teams.
· To ensure that the forecast quantities are supplied as effectively as possible through contact with the Sourcing Units and European Categories.
· To ensure that stock targets are regularly reviewed and actual stocks are maintained and achieved throughout the year.
· To improve the processes within the supply chain through identifying and implementing improvement opportunities.
· Understand and influence the planning parameters (In-House and External) and assumptions
· Maintain planning data and parameters.
· Support the implementation of Finished Goods stock policy (set by USCC) using inventory planning models by stock holding location
· Determine gross requirements by distribution centre or market
· Follow up of production plans with Sourcing Units under replenishment
· Generation of supply request with Sourcing Units or Copackers under supply request (within SLA agreement with USCC)
· Understand warehouse and transportation capacity planning
· Establish finished goods inventory forecast (pallet forecast: warehouse capacity)
· Translate potential supply risks and ensure clear communication into MSO (Manufacturing Sales Organisation)
· Execution of stock transfers (Out Of Stock solution from Planning)
· Trigger stock release or blocking (link with Quality and Logistics)
· Stock shelf life management (in stock): monitor stock age profile vs. gross requirements on weekly basis
· Obsolete management (avoidance); identify obsolete risks, initiate and follow through required actions to avoid obsoletes; final accountability lies with the USCC; actions need to be agreed accordingly
· Obsolete disposal management determine obsolete provision on monthly basis
· Maintain Day to day stock on all packs within a very challenging remit
· Manage stock availability and stock movements, particularly in times of constraint – both for own remit and co-ordination on behalf of the team
· Manage operational planning for ongoing re-pack items, and liaise with re-pack team on ad hoc re-pack items
· Regularly review with Sourcing Units/USCC and understand their constraints and developments – to include sharing of our forecast accuracy, their service level and our joint stock-holding
· Regular contact with Category Brand teams to ensure all promotional and launch data is correct including participation in project teams eg new launches, special packs
· Regular contact with Customer Account Managers to ensure accuracy of short term forecast and our ability to supply
· Proactive use of supply and forecasting information to manage the supply chain at optimum cost and customer service
· Provide input Category Planning Manager for RCCP (Rough Cut Capacity Planning) + process
· Identify and communicate of improvement opportunities both in preventing issues and improving processes
· Form an integral part of NPD teams, to link Supply into the NPD (New Product Development) process
· Ensure special pack volumes and phasing are validated sufficiently early in the planning process.
· Support formal Category Planning and USCC TPS/EPD processes.
· Ensure the inclusion of the rolling 24 month Requirements forecast indicators in Annual Planning.
· Report & analyse Key Performance Indicators, implementing continuous improvement activities around these. Lead category review of supply variances, working with Customer Replenishment Analyst, SU's (Sourcing Units) and USCC to formally root cause major variances and agree preventive actions.
· With Category Demand teams and Customer Account Managers undertake monthly Demand and Supply Balancing reviews to ensure appropriate decisions are taken to manage forecast volatility, supply reliability and service risks.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

· Proficiency in sophisticated IT software packages to develop accurate requirements plans and a full understanding of stock modelling and regional sourcing
· Strong commitment to Customer Service through Requirements Planning, and a thorough understanding of the impact of their activity on the company and the customer's businesses.
· Strong analytical skills and key emphasis on the requirement to undertake root cause analysis and rigorously implement improvement action plans in order to continually develop the robustness of Logistics processes linked to requirements planning.
· Strong communication skills within the company and with the Europe, as well as excellent team working skills
· Support the delivery of the category business plans through excellent control of our sourcing signal into the upstream supply chain and through building robust relationships to ensure an effective flow of information between the supply side SU's, and USCC, and the MSO.
· Previous Logistics experience
· IT knowledge
· Willingness to occasionally travel within the UK and Europe.
· Ability to prioritise and replan quickly and in issue resolution

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Unilever is a global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods company in the UK and Ireland. We are already on target to achieve our huge ambition to double the size of our business globally whilst reducing our environmental impact. We are growing our business and also doing what is right for our consumers, community and environment. We are developing brands for people's lives today and for the changing environment tomorrow - making sustainable living commonplace.

Working at Unilever means that you get to take part in this exciting journey and work with amazing people who are really passionate about our large portfolio of famous brands. We want to improve billions of lives and you too can join us in making a sustainable difference.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Online Application >> Digital Interview >> Face to Face Interview >> Job Offer

Please note: As part of the job application, you will be asked to complete a brief online application form. Completion of the form is required in order to be considered. Please allow yourself enough time to complete the application form as when filled out partially or not at all it may adversely affect the progress of your application. Please be aware that you will have to complete the form at once as you will be unable to return to it later.

For further information about this position please call: 0800 0284390. Please do not contact this number if you are an agency/third party. This number is strictly for candidates only.