About the Opportunity 5th Wave is partnering with a high-growth consulting firm building a next-generation planning capability across the Australian market. There’s a clear gap in the upper mid-market manufacturing sector: S&OP and IBP aren’t being delivered to a high standard — either functionally or technically. This business is investing to change that. We’re looking for a Principal Consultant to take ownership of this space. This is a foundational hire, where you will define, shape, and lead the S&OP/IBP capability from the ground up. This is not a support role — you will be the domain expert driving credibility, methodology, and client outcomes. The Role This position blends go-to-market, practice development, and client delivery. Go-To-Market & Pre-Sales Lead discovery conversations with prospective clients Shape S&OP/IBP solutions aligned to planning maturity Support and lead demos, workshops, and proposal development Contribute to market positioning and growth strategy Practice & Capability Development Define functional requirements for S&OP/IBP solutions Contribute to building repeatable methodologies and playbooks Help establish and scale a best-in-class planning practice Client Delivery Act as the functional lead across S&OP/IBP engagements Design processes, governance frameworks, and KPIs Facilitate workshops with senior stakeholders across supply chain, finance, and operations Ensure solutions align with best practice and deliver real business value Build strong, referenceable client relationships About You You are an S&OP/IBP specialist with real-world experience and credibility. You may come from: Industry (manufacturing or FMCG supply chain) Consulting (Big 4 or specialist firms) Planning platforms or vendor ecosystem You understand what “good” looks like — and how to deliver it. What You Bring Deep expertise in S&OP and/or IBP process design Experience in supply chain planning, consulting, or planning platforms Strong client-facing skills across workshops, pre-sales, and stakeholder engagement Ability to work alongside technical teams while owning functional outcomes Commercial awareness and understanding of how consulting engagements are won Comfortable in a high-ownership, fast-paced environment Nice to Have Exposure to EPM/CPM platforms (e.g. Jedox, Anaplan, OneStream) Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g. Snowflake) Existing network within Australian manufacturing or FMCG sectors What This Role Is Not Not a technical build/configuration role Not a project management position Not suited to someone who requires heavy structure or large teams Why This Role? Foundational position with real ownership Opportunity to build and lead a new capability High visibility and impact across clients and leadership Work with a technically strong and ambitious team Apply If you’re ready to step into a leadership role and shape the future of S&OP/IBP in Australia, apply via 5th Wave today. IBP S&OP Melbourne Consultant Hybrid