About the job
Kao Corporation seeks a Demand Planner based in Dubai. This position focuses on building and managing accurate 12-month rolling forecasts for distributors, connecting global supply chain operations with local sales teams. The Demand Planner collaborates with Sales, Marketing, and other internal groups, as well as external distributors, to align on forecast approvals and ensure logistics run smoothly.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and maintain detailed 12-month rolling forecasts for all distributors.
- Apply statistical and analytical methods to create forecasts.
- Generate naïve forecasts from historical data when distributor information is unavailable.
- Refine projections using market sales data, promotional plans, and sales estimates.
- Consolidate and review forecasts by country.
- Track distributor inventory levels to improve order prediction.
- Facilitate consensus on forecasts with distributors and Kao stakeholders such as Sales and Marketing.
- Lead monthly meetings with distributors to review and adjust forecasts.
- Work with Sales, Marketing, and Finance in monthly discussions to finalize forecasts.
- Prepare monthly reports on forecasting performance.
- Analyze forecasting KPIs, investigate variances, and use root cause analysis to address gaps between forecasts, orders, and dispatches.
- Oversee product phase-ins and phase-outs, including new product launches.
- Maintain a phase-out tracker to coordinate product transitions with distributors.
Collaboration and communication
This role requires frequent interaction with distributors and internal teams, ensuring that forecasting aligns with both market realities and company goals. Regular meetings and consensus-building are key parts of the job.
