Demand Planner, ESA

ABOUT THE COMPANY

We're on a mission to power access to brighter lives. Sun King designs, distributes, installs and finances solar home energy products for the 1.8 billion people currently living without reliable energy access.

JOB SUMMARY

You might be a strong candidate if you have:A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.A minimum of 5+ years of continuous experience in regional demand planning, supply chain planning, forecasting, or commercial planning.Experience managing multiple markets within Africa, preferably ESA.Strong quantitative and numerical skills with advanced Excel capability.Experience using ERP and planning systems such as SAP, IBP, Oracle, or similar tools.Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, renewable energy, retail, manufacturing, or distribution industry experience preferred.Knowledge of regional trade dynamics and supply chain considerations within Africa.Ability to travel within ESA markets as required.Strong quantitative evaluation and problem-solving skills.Commercial and business acumen.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.The ability to work effectively across diverse cultures.High attention to detail and accuracy.The ability to work in a fast-paced matrix environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

 Demand Forecasting and PlanningLiaise with stakeholders to develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term demand forecasts for ESA markets.Review historical sales trends, seasonality, market intelligence, promotions, and customer insights to improve forecast accuracy.Facilitate monthly demand review meetings with cross-functional stakeholders.Monitor forecast performance and continuously improve forecasting accuracy.Manage demand planning inputs for new product launches, discontinuations, and promotional activities.Sales, Inventory and Operations PlanningContribute to the regional SIOP process by providing accurate demand projections with a target of 85%+ forecast accuracy.Work closely with global supply planning and procurement teams to align supply availability with market demand, targeting zero stock-outs across all markets.Identify demand gaps, supply risks, and inventory exposure and recommend mitigation actions.Market and Business InsightsReview sales performance, inventory trends, and demand patterns across ESA markets.Track key demand planning KPIs including, but not limited to, forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, quantity value of working capital optimization, and loss of revenue from low inventory levels.Provide recommendations on trade-offs to optimize working capital requirements for the business.Provide supply chain health check reporting to management to inform changes in ordering frequency, safety stock definitions, and working capital requirements.Management, Systems and Process ImprovementsWork closely with Sales, Marketing, Commercial Finance, and Country Sales and Operations Managers to align commercial plans with demand forecasts.Work with local procurement teams, coordinate on lead times, and communicate business needs in advance to avoid supply chain bottlenecks.Maintain accurate demand planning data in ERP and forecasting systems.Communicate demand risks, assumptions, and forecast changes effectively to stakeholders.Drive continuous improvement initiatives in forecasting tools, planning processes, and reporting capabilities.Contribute to automation and digital transformation initiatives within supply chain planning.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Supply and demand planning, Stock and inventory management, Logistics planning and management, Supplier evaluation and management

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree