Demand Planning Specialist

Red Bull

Job details

  • ONSITE
  • FULL_TIME
  • Cape Town
  • za
  • Verified 2026-10-08
  • Source: Red Bull public SmartRecruiters board

Original job description

Company Description

The Demand Planning Specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining an accurate, consensus-based demand plan that balances customer demand, inventory health, service levels, and supply chain capabilities.

The role serves as the key link between Sales, Marketing, Finance, Logistics, Customer Service, Distribution Partners, customers, and Global Operations. Through demand forecasting, customer collaboration, S&OP participation, inventory analysis, demand reviews, and data-driven decision-making, the Demand Planning Specialist identifies opportunities and risks, improves forecast accuracy, and ensures the organization is positioned to deliver sustainable growth while maintaining high service levels. This role combines strategic thinking, analytical capability, stakeholder management, operational execution, and continuous improvement to support business growth and supply chain performance.

Job Description

Demand Forecasting & Consensus Planning
Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts across all products, channels, customers, and planning horizons.
Analyze historical sales trends, market intelligence, seasonality, promotional plans, customer forecasts, and commercial assumptions to build robust demand plans. Translate qualitative and quantitative inputs into a balanced demand forecast through structured forecast reviews.
Continuously assess forecast changes, forecast bias, and forecast accuracy, identifying root causes and corrective actions.
Challenge assumptions where required to ensure plans reflect realistic market demand.
Communicate forecast updates, risks, and opportunities clearly to all relevant stakeholders.

 

Customer Collaboration & Demand Reviews
Lead and support regular demand reviews with Key Account Managers, Distribution Partners, Sales teams, and strategic customers.
Build consensus plans through collaborative forecasting processes and ongoing customer engagement.
Analyze customer forecasts, planned promotions, point-of-sale trends, stock levels, and open orders to identify risks and opportunities.
Provide clear recommendations regarding demand trends, service risks, allocation requirements, and supply constraints.
Support customer service level reviews and facilitate planning discussions that improve forecast quality and execution performance.
Drive accountability for agreed actions and ensure planning assumptions remain aligned across stakeholders.

 

S&OP, IBP & Planning Process Execution

Support and drive the monthly S&OP and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
Prepare and maintain planning inputs, reports, dashboards, and presentation materials required throughout the planning cycle.
Own demand plan updates within planning systems and ensure submissions are completed accurately and on time.
Maintain planning master data integrity across SAP, IBP, CPM, and relevant planning platforms.
Conduct planning validation checks and resolve planning system, material, location, and master data exceptions.
Collaborate with local and global planning teams to ensure alignment between local requirements and global supply planning activities.
Support continuous improvement of planning processes, governance, controls, and planning maturity.

 

Inventory Health, Supply Risk & Exception Management
Monitor inventory positions, target stock coverage, service levels, stock health, and product availability.
Identify and proactively manage risks relating to stock shortages, excess inventory, slow-moving stock, aging inventory, and regional imbalances.
Support allocation decisions during periods of constrained supply.
Work closely with Logistics, Customer Service, Procurement, and Global Planning teams to understand supply availability, lead time changes, production constraints, and shipment risks.
Develop mitigation plans and planning scenarios to minimize customer impact where supply constraints exist.
Provide clear visibility of planning exceptions and escalate material risks in a timely manner.

 

New Product Introduction & Portfolio Management:
Support planning activities related to product launches, limited editions, permanent innovations, consumer activations, promotions, and pack transitions.
Develop launch forecasts and monitor launch performance against expectations.
Coordinate planning requirements with Brand, Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Logistics, and Global Planning stakeholders.
Manage planning transitions associated with SKU changes, phase-ins, phase-outs, discontinued products, replacement materials, and promotional stock.
Ensure all relevant planning data and assumptions are correctly reflected within planning systems.
Monitor portfolio performance and provide fact-based recommendations to support portfolio optimization decisions.

Analytics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement:
Develop and maintain reporting, dashboards, and analytical tools that improve planning visibility and decision making.
Use Power BI, Excel, SAP, IBP, and other planning tools to provide actionable business insights.
Track and improve key planning metrics including:
Forecast Accuracy
Forecast Bias
Service Levels
Product Availability
Inventory Coverage
Excess Inventory
Customer Forecast Adherence
Planning Action Completion
Master Data Accuracy

Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve data quality.
Support the development of exception-based planning and data-driven decision making across the business.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement through structured problem solving, root cause analysis, and process optimization.

 

Qualifications

3-5 years of experience in Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Forecasting, S&OP, Operations, FMCG, Beverage, Retail, Consumer Goods or a similar fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated experience in demand forecasting, customer collaboration, and consensus planning.
Experience participating in S&OP, IBP, or integrated planning processes.
Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret large datasets and generate actionable business insights.
Experience managing inventory, service level, and supply chain performance metrics.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to influence decisions across multiple functions.
Experience working with ERP and planning systems, preferably SAP and IBP.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with Power BI experience strongly preferred.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic and rapidly changing business environment.
Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, automation, and business performance.

Additional Information

This job description is not exhaustive of the potential duties that the successful applicant will be required to perform, and is provided solely to assist potential job applicants in determining their suitability for the role and to apply for the job. It is not an offer of employment and Red Bull is under no obligation to hire an applicant who submits an application. 

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