Demand Specialist

Demand Specialist

United Arab Emirates

Job Description

Demand Planner Specialist-EMEA-

The Demand Planning Manager will support the entire demand planning process for the Switchgear EMEA Business Unit, from data analysis and forecasting to communication. This includes collaborating with cross-functional teams and developing demand strategies aligned with business objectives.

As part of the EMEA Demand planning team, this role delivers a reliable demand plan to support central Sales & Operations Planning for Switchgear. This ensures Commercial and Operations management have accurate and timely demand information for decision-making regarding business priorities and in navigating complex demand scenarios and proactively addressing potential risks.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advanced Demand Forecasting and Analysis:

• Lead the rigorous collection and in-depth analysis of complex historical sales data, identifying nuanced trends, causal factors, and market drivers, including the impact of promotions, macroeconomic indicators, and competitor activities.
• Design, develop, and continuously refine sophisticated statistical forecast models, proactively exploring and implementing advanced forecasting techniques (e.g., machine learning algorithms, predictive analytics, hierarchical forecasting) and leveraging specialized planning software to generate highly accurate baseline forecasts.
• Proactively integrate and synthesize diverse sources of business intelligence, including detailed qualitative insights from sales, marketing, and product management (e.g., granular new product introduction forecasts, promotional lift analysis, evolving market trends, competitive intelligence, in-depth customer feedback) into comprehensive, consensus-driven forecasts.
• Conduct deep-dive analysis of forecast variances and root cause analysis, identifying underlying systemic issues, recommending corrective actions, and implementing preventative measures to improve future forecast accuracy and reduce bias.
• Develop and implement robust methodologies for assessing and quantifying demand risk and opportunity, creating scenario analyses (e.g., best-case, worst-case, most likely) to inform strategic decision-making and enable proactive mitigation or capitalization strategies.

2. Expert Collaboration and Consensus Building:

• Facilitate and drive highly effective cross-functional demand review meetings, expertly leading discussions with sales, marketing, finance, and operations to achieve a robust and fully aligned consensus demand plan, effectively resolving conflicts and driving commitment.
• Strategically challenge sales and marketing forecasts through rigorous data-driven analysis and compelling insights, ensuring the demand plan is realistic, achievable, and aligns with operational capabilities and financial targets.
• Champion clear, concise, and persuasive communication of the final consensus demand plan, tailoring the message and key takeaways to various stakeholder groups across all relevant departments, ensuring comprehensive understanding and buy-in.
• Take a leading role in coordinating complex new product launches and end-of-life cycles, collaborating closely with product development, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure accurate forecasting, smooth transitions, and minimize obsolescence or stock-out risks.

3. Strategic Inventory Management Support:

• Provide critical and detailed input to supply planning, collaborating extensively with supply chain teams to translate the consensus demand plan into optimized production schedules, inventory strategies, and capacity plans that balance service levels with cost efficiency.
• Proactively monitor and analyze inventory performance against strategic targets, identifying emerging potential stock-outs or excess inventory, conducting root cause analysis, and recommending advanced corrective and preventative actions.
• Develop and implement strategies for minimizing slow-moving and obsolete (SLOB) inventory, including proactive identification, lifecycle management, and collaborating on disposition plans.

4. Advanced Reporting, Performance Monitoring, and Process Improvement:

• Design, develop, and automate sophisticated demand planning reports and dashboards focused on forecast accuracy, bias, demand variability, service levels, and other key performance indicators (KPIs), providing actionable insights to leadership.
• Present complex demand insights and performance analysis to management, articulating challenges, opportunities, and strategic recommendations in a clear and impactful manner.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process optimization and drive the implementation of improvements to forecasting models, data integration, planning processes, and systems to significantly enhance accuracy, efficiency, and responsiveness across the SIOP cycle.
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives within the SIOP function, applying Lean or Six Sigma principles where applicable.

5. System Mastery and Data Governance:

• Serve as a super-user and subject matter expert for demand planning software (e.g., ERP/MRP systems, advanced planning systems like Kinaxis, IBP, Anaplan), maximizing system capabilities to drive efficiency and accuracy.
• Develop and enforce data governance best practices to ensure the highest level of data integrity, accuracy, and consistency within planning systems.
• Contribute to the evaluation and selection of new planning technologies and tools, assessing their potential impact and integration.

Daily/Weekly/Monthly Cadence - Enhanced Focus:

• Daily/Weekly: Proactive monitoring of demand signals, deep-dive analysis into short-term deviations, rapid communication of significant shifts, and addressing urgent planning exceptions.

Monthly:

• Leading comprehensive data refresh and validation process, ensuring data quality for all planning inputs.
• Executing advanced statistical forecast runs and performing detailed postprocessing adjustments.
• Strategically preparing for and expertly facilitating demand review meetings, driving consensus and accountability.
• Performing in-depth analysis of forecast accuracy and bias, generating insights, and presenting detailed KPI reports with recommendations.
• Proactively identifying, quantifying, and communicating emerging risks and opportunities, contributing to risk mitigation strategies.