Market Collaboration Specialist
This role plays a pivotal part in executing the Customer Operations strategy at Unilever. The successful candidate will own volume forecasts and be accountable for delivering aligned, unbiased, and accurate predictions.
Main Responsibilities:
Demand Forecasting
* Drive collaboration across business teams to ensure forecast represents a good mix of value and volume growth.
* Be a key member of the S&OP forum, driving Activity & Demand Review meetings through business insights.
* Utilize technology and data to drive monthly S&OP forums.
* Provide insights and drive Activity Review Meetings for a better-quality forecast across medium and long-term horizons.
* Collaborate with commercial, finance, marketing, and customer/category teams to achieve business targets.
Growth Strategy
* Develop robust innovation business cases and identify the most optimal forecast.
* Identify assumptions for incremental volumes across various channels and ensure alignment with market data and promo group trends.
* Collaborate with Marketing, Category, and Finance to estimate volumes of regular items, innovations, and offerings by customers.
* Adept new technologies such as Forecast Utility Engine (FEU)/Machine Learning.
* Presentation planning and innovation updates in relevant business meetings.
Decision Making
* Participate in S&OP reviews and meetings for relevant category management and manage supply chain stakeholders.
* Collaborate with Trade & Supply to address product availability constraints and identify alternatives for effective gap management.
* Highlight risks and opportunities, aligning with Top-down sales volume.
* Review Late Changes with Customer managers and effectively engage with Execution for quick decisions.
* Engage with Plan & Execute to review outcome of key forecast changes, major upcoming promotions, potential supply risks, late changes.
* First point of contact for exception management (Incremental Promotions, Changes in Innovations, Customer Ranging outcomes, Managing De-listings, Customer Off-location opportunities).
Agility and Responsiveness
* Drive concurrent planning across Demand and Supply elements to embed agility and responsiveness in the way we operate.
* Identify opportunities to automate and get continuous benefits for data analytics and intelligence.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
* Forecast Accuracy & Bias.
* Volume Value Disconnect.
* Forecast Value Add for input-led forecast.
* Innovation Forecast Bias.
* FEU Adoption metrics (automated forecasting).
* Supply Metrics: Customer Service, Inventory & Business Waste.
Required Skills and Qualifications
* Strong Excel Skills.
* Planning Mastery, S&OP and Business Finance understanding.
* Ability to make fact-based decisions.
* Strong communication skill and ability to influence key stakeholders.
* Proven ability to work within a team.
* Knowledge of relevant SC Processes.
* Category & Customer Knowledge.
Benefits
* Opportunity to develop strong expertise in Supply Chain Management.
* Chance to collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to business success.
* Professional growth and development opportunities.
Others
* University Degree, Supply Chain (APICS etc) qualification is an advantage.
* Strong experience in Supply Chain.
* Digital Analytic Tools such as, PowerBi.
* Experience in Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry.