About This Role
This role is about orchestrating alignment between sales ambitions, supply realities, and financial constraints within a major Ethiopian distribution company. The S&OP Planning Lead acts as the central nervous system, ensuring that demand forecasts are not wishful thinking and that supply plans are not reactive scrambles. It suits an experienced planner who enjoys building structured processes and mediating between commercial and operational teams to drive consensus.
What the Requirements Say About This Role
The implied profile is someone who can translate commercial targets into operational realities, not just a data entry specialist. The need for 5-8 years of experience suggests the employer wants a professional who has seen the consequences of poor planning—stockouts, write-offs, or missed sales—and can proactively prevent them. The emphasis on "unified planning" indicates the company likely suffers from siloed decision-making, so they need someone diplomatic enough to challenge different departments while building trust.
How to Approach This Application
In your application, avoid simply listing forecasting tools you know. Instead, describe a specific instance where you improved forecast accuracy by 10% or more and the direct business impact it had—like reduced inventory costs or increased service levels. Emphasize your ability to facilitate cross-functional meetings where conflicting priorities (sales wants everything, finance wants minimal risk) are resolved into a single, actionable plan. National Marketers PLC will prioritize candidates who demonstrate they can make the S&OP process stick, not just design it.
Who This Role Suits
This role is best suited for a senior planner with a strong analytical background and proven experience in FMCG or distribution environments. It is likely a competitive position given the seniority and the critical nature of the role in a company with complex supply chains.
About the Role
The S&OP Planning Lead is responsible for establishing and managing a robust, unified planning system that aligns demand, supply, and financial plans across National Marketers PLC.
The role ensures accurate forecasting, efficient resource utilization, and synchronized decision-making across functions to improve business performance, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
1. Demand, Supply & Financial Forecasting
Develop accurate demand and supply forecasts using historical data, market intelligence, and external insights
Align forecasts with commercial objectives and financial targets
Monitor supplier lead times, inventory levels, and supply risks
Continuously improve forecast accuracy and planning assumptions
2. S&OP Process Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment
- Lead and facilitate weekly, monthly, and quarterly S&OP meetings
- Ensure structured, effective S&OP cycles with clear outputs and accountability
- Act as the central linkage between Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance teams
- Drive alignment and unified planning across all business functions
3. Commercial & Operational Planning Execution
- Translate sales plans into actionable operational and supply plans
- Ensure demand and supply balance to support business growth
- Optimize resource allocation to maximize service level and revenue
- Support business expansion and new product planning initiatives
4. Decision Support & Scenario Planning
- Provide data-driven insights, scenario modeling, and variance analysis
- Support management decision-making with accurate and timely planning data
- Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities and recommend corrective actions
- Prepare S&OP reports and executive summaries
5. Leadership, Coaching & Team Development
- Lead and manage Demand & Supply Planners
- Drive performance management through KPIs and structured follow-up
- Build team capability through coaching and mentorship
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
Educational Qualification
- BA Degree in Supply Chain Management, Sales & Marketing, or related field
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in S&OP planning roles
- Proven experience in demand and supply planning, forecasting, and cross-functional coordination
Functional Competencies
- Demand and Supply Planning Expertise
- Data Analysis and Scenario Modeling
- Cross-Functional Alignment and Communication
- Operational and Commercial Planning Acumen
- Process Optimization and Technology Utilization
How To Apply
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through the application form below:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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S&OP Planning Lead
National Marketers PLC
