Planner - Supply Chain - UK & IRE

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded Planner to join our supply chain team. This is a key role within the business, working closely with both commercial and operational teams to ensure effective demand planning and stock optimisation. You will play a critical part in driving efficiency across purchasing strategies, improving working capital, and supporting a high level of customer satisfaction.

Job Purpose

As a Planner you will interact with both Commercial and Operational Teams, working closely with commercial assistants and supply chain administrators. Be responsible for managing and developing purchasing strategies across a defined principal portfolio. Formalise a stock policy according to demand forecasts, Principals capacities and available stocks, in order to maximise NWC and COGS efficiency whilst meeting principal needs, and supporting “best in class” customer satisfaction.

Main Accountabilities

• Responsible for Demand Planning covering a defined principal portfolio.
• Responsible for procurement strategies, stock management actions and quality of tools.
• Ensure compliance with all QA and SHE requirements, procedures and working instructions in order to maintain high service standards and quality of Data Management.
• Understand market trends, Principals/Suppliers organisations, product range specifications (goods availability, Minimum Order Quantity, leadtimes, pallet size, batch size, packing etc.) Interact with Product Manager to define/review principals expectations/specifications.
• Elaborate and provide purchase forecasts to suppliers when required. Ensure purchase orders alignment with forecasts provided.
• Join Business Reviews (Department and Suppliers) and share Planning Dashboard.
• Generate and send replenishment reviews to Supply Chain Administrator. Collaborate with Supply Chain Administrator and Product Manager to ensure goods receipt if required.
• Join Product Manager and Supply Chain Administrator to create Principals ID cards, including Supplier requirements (minimum quantities, values, purchasing frequency etc).
• Analyse sales and understand customers behaviours (volumes, seasonality, risks) while interacting with Azelis Sales Forces (Commercial Assistant and Product Manager).
• Analyse stock availability based on upstream and downstream information and open SO & PO in the ERP.
• Ensure best balance between margins maximization (volume effect on COGS) / DIO optimization.
• Support Master Planning process within AX in order to maximise stock availability, minimise lead times and reduce Net Working Capital.
• Liasise with commercial assistants to ensure accuracy of sales forecasting.
• Optimize stock rotation, limitation of impairment and rationalization of logistics expenses.
• Draw up yearly budget and KPIs & tools to follow costs in detail and assess results; take corrective actions where needed - DIO per Department and per Supplier - Obsolete stock value - Impairment value. Exactness of replenishment reviews (number of modifications) - Accuracy of purchase forecasts.
• Look for solutions to provide savings (financial, time, resources).
• Ensure information flow to other team-members within the supply chain team.
• Provide Stock Replenishment Order Reviews to the back office team.
• Follow principal supply behavior, detecting opportunities, developing operational relationship.
• Master specific systems - e.g. CRM 365, ERP system
• Participate and initiate in conjunction with the Finance Team – stock count and reconciliation procedures for designated supplier portfolio and/or specific warehouse locations.
• Assist Supply Chain Administrators, Warehouse and Logistics functions for stock variance/discrepancies – investigation, explanation and corrective actions with financial impact on the business unit.
• Be responsible for new Principal and Product set up, and identify sample stock requirement as part of the set up process.