Planning & Forecasting Manager

The Role We are seeking a strategic and detail-oriented planning professional to drive end-to-end demand, production, and material planning. This role is responsible for developing accurate forecasts, translating demand into actionable production plans, and ensuring alignment across project timelines and resource availability. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to optimise inventory, mitigate risks, and resolve bottlenecks to ensure on-time delivery. Leveraging data-driven insights, you will analyse performance, improve forecast accuracy, and support decision-making at both operational and strategic levels. You will also lead process improvements, enhance planning systems (ERP/MRP), and champion best practices across the function. As a team leader, you will develop and guide planning personnel while building strong stakeholder relationships across the business. Key Responsibilities: 1. Demand Planning & Forecasting a. Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts based on sales input, project pipelines, market trends, and historical data. b. Conduct regular forecast reviews and scenario planning to support business decisions. c. Identify forecasting gaps, risks, and opportunities; recommend corrective actions. 2. Production & Material Planning a. Translate forecasts into production and material plans to ensure adequate supply readiness. b. Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and production teams to align material requirements with project timelines. c. Monitor inventory levels and adjust plans to prevent shortages or overstocking. d. Ensure Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy for planning and scheduling purposes. 3. Project Alignment & Coordination a. Work closely with project managers to understand project schedules and resource needs. b. Update planning schedules to accommodate design changes, delays, or client-driven modifications. c. Coordinate cross-functionally to resolve resource bottlenecks and ensure on-time delivery. 4. Data Analysis & Reporting a. Generate planning dashboards, performance reports, and forecast accuracy metrics for management. b. Analyse data to identify patterns, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities. c. Present insights to senior management to support operational and strategic decision-making. 5. Process Improvement & Systems Management a. Lead initiatives to improve planning accuracy, forecasting models, and SOP processes. b. Enhance system capabilities for planning functions (ERP/MRP/forecasting tools). c. Implement best practices and continuous improvement methodologies across the planning function. 6. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management a. Lead and develop planning specialists or coordinators within the team. b. Set clear KPIs for planning performance and ensure accountability. c. Foster strong working relationships with sales, engineering, procurement, logistics, and finance teams. Competencies Requirements (Education, Training and Experience): 1. Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field. 2. Minimum 5–7 years of experience in demand planning, production planning, or supply chain management. 3. Strong understanding of manufacturing, project-based environments, and material flow processes. 4. Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel; experience with forecasting tools preferred. 5. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills. 6. Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities. 7. Experience in continuous improvement (Lean, Kaizen, S&OP) is an advantage. 8. Leadership experience in managing planning teams or cross-functional projects.