Planner

We are currently seeking an interim Planner to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position is based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. This is a full-time temporary role to run for 12 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £46,500 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

JOB PURPOSE

• This role is responsible for ensuring consistently high service to our customers by proactively identifying and solving short and mid-term supply/demand mismatches.
• This role works cross-functionally and is the key local contact for all supply side questions. This role coordinates the management of any supply gaps, balancing cost, carbon, and service.
• They also ensure rigorous execution of SKU transitions and are a key contact for Fuel For Growth projects, residuals, blocked stock, business waste, and life cycle management.
• This role will have less of a focus on repetitive or routine tasks than similar roles in the past, and more emphasis on coordination of risk mitigation with business stakeholders to deliver results. This role is highly skilled in collaboration and uses their mastery and network to work at speed and under pressure.
• They can manage high complexity and use continuous improvement and digital solutions to step-up business delivery. They have a problem-solving mindset and practice the 'fix it once, fix it forever' motto in order to spend time on more value-adding tasks.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountable for short term service by proactively monitoring and mitigating risks, and resolving supply/demand gaps.
• Ensure perfect execution of business plans, acting as central contact between the local team and the Katowice hub.
• Monitor and adjust execution of transitions.
• Own residuals, ageing stock, blocked stock, and business waste on behalf of PMU Planning across Finished Goods Stocks.
• Feedback to Sales, CCD, Marketing, Customer Experience, and Market Collaboration Planners on risks & incremental opportunities – the point of contact on short term stock unavailability, and mitigation choices.
• Lead the response on Supply Crises such as product availability and mitigate impacts of Quality and Regulatory issues.
• Participate and contribute in Demand-Supply reviews.
• A point of contact with innovations, strategic planning, finance, and Customer Operations including Logistics (local Distribution Centres, transport planning).
• Collaborate with category supply planning in Katowice, Market Collaboration Planners, Customer Experience, and Local CD & Marketing Teams to execute the business plan & react to actual supply, actual sales, and latest business intelligence to resolve short term supply/demand mismatches.
• Analyse valuable insights from data, and translate into actions. Know when to question data, based on accuracy, and identified inconsistencies.
• Provide insight that enables the team to predict future trends, optimise current operations and identify new opportunities, which lead to business growth.

Requirements:

• Experience of E2E planning, including demand planning, material requirements planning, production planning, and innovation planning.
• Able to see the bigger picture, and recognise constraints and challenges in other parts of the supply chain.
• Ability to analyse valuable insights from data; therefore, strong analytical skills are essential.