Supply Planner Team Lead

Job Description

Role Purpose

• Lead Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Production Planning activities to ensure material availability, production plan adherence, optimal inventory levels, and reliable customer service. Drive continuous improvement across supply planning through process optimization, digital transformation, and automation, while developing team capabilities and strengthening planning governance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

• Lead MRP activities to ensure timely availability of raw and packaging materials in line with production requirements and business priorities.
• Oversee material planning parameters, replenishment strategies, safety stocks, and planning master data to maintain accurate and reliable planning outputs.
• Monitor material availability, identify potential shortages and excess inventory risks, and drive proactive resolution plans with procurement, suppliers, and relevant stakeholders.
• Optimize inventory levels and working capital while maintaining target service levels and production continuity.
• Establish effective routines to monitor material coverage, purchase requisition and purchase order execution, and material-related risks.

2. Production Planning

• Lead production planning activities, translating business requirements into feasible production plans aligned with demand, capacity, material availability, and operational constraints.
• Ensure effective short-, medium-, and long-term production planning, balancing service, inventory, capacity utilization, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor production plan adherence, capacity constraints, schedule changes, and production losses, driving corrective actions where required.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, demand planning, procurement, and other cross-functional teams to resolve constraints and ensure alignment on priorities.
• Support planning cycles and scenario analysis to anticipate risks, evaluate alternatives, and enable timely business decisions.

3. Supply Chain Transformation and Automation

• Lead supply planning transformation initiatives focused on improving planning effectiveness, operational efficiency, and business performance.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive activities, streamline workflows, and reduce manual interventions through digital solutions and planning system enhancements.
• Drive the deployment and adoption of planning tools, system capabilities, and automated reporting to improve data visibility, planning accuracy, and decision-making.
• Establish a continuous improvement pipeline, prioritizing initiatives based on business impact, implementation feasibility, and return on investment.

4. Process Optimization and Governance

• Standardize and continuously improve MRP and production planning processes, ways of working, and operating procedures.
• Identify root causes of recurring planning issues, eliminate process inefficiencies, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Strengthen planning governance through clear roles and responsibilities, structured performance reviews, escalation mechanisms, and decision-making routines.
• Develop and maintain planning KPIs, dashboards, and performance management routines to track operational effectiveness and transformation benefits.
• Ensure high-quality planning master data, robust controls, and consistent adherence to agreed planning policies and processes.

5. Team Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the supply planning team, fostering accountability, collaboration, analytical thinking, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Define clear performance expectations, individual development plans, and team objectives aligned with supply chain priorities.
• Develop role-based qualification and capability-building programs to strengthen technical expertise, planning competencies, and process knowledge across the team.
• Identify capability gaps and implement structured training, knowledge-sharing, and cross-training initiatives to build a skilled and resilient planning organization.
• Promote a culture of ownership, innovation, and fact-based decision-making.

6. Performance Management and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Own supply planning performance against key metrics, including material availability, production plan adherence, inventory levels, service levels, and planning efficiency.
• Translate performance insights into actionable improvement plans, ensuring clear ownership, timely execution, and measurable business impact.
• Collaborate with procurement, manufacturing, demand planning, finance, logistics, and digital teams to align priorities and resolve end-to-end supply chain challenges.
• Provide regular updates on planning performance, supply risks, improvement initiatives, and transformation progress to relevant stakeholders.
• Support business planning and decision-making through scenario analysis, risk assessment, and data-driven recommendations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Material availability and material-related production losses.
• Production plan adherence and schedule stability.
• Inventory value, days of inventory, and excess or obsolete stock.
• Customer service level and supply-related service losses.
• Planning process efficiency and manual workload reduction.
• Automation and process improvement benefits delivered.
• Planning master data accuracy and system utilization.
• Team capability development and qualification completion.
• Delivery of transformation initiatives against agreed milestones and targets.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Typically 4–6 years of relevant supply chain experience, with demonstrated expertise in material and production planning.
• Previous experience leading or coordinating a planning team, preferably in FMCG or a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of MRP principles, production scheduling, inventory management, capacity planning, and supply chain processes.
• Experience with ERP and planning systems, such as SAP, and exposure to reporting and automation tools such as Power BI, Excel, or similar platforms.
• Proven experience in process improvement, project implementation, automation, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and people leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate operational challenges into structured improvement initiatives and measurable business results.

Core Competencies

• Supply planning and operational excellence.
• Continuous improvement and transformation leadership.
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical problem-solving.
• Process standardization and governance.
• Team leadership and capability development.
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Change management and digital adoption.