Assistant Manager - Demand and Supply Planning

Metro Global Solution Center (MGSC) is internal solution partner for METRO, a €31 Billion international wholesaler with operations in more than 30 countries. The store network comprises a total of 623 stores in 21 countries, of which 522 offer out-of-store delivery (OOS), and 94 dedicated depots. In 12 countries, METRO runs only the delivery business by its delivery companies (Food Service Distribution, FSD). HoReCa and Traders are core customer groups of METRO. The HoReCa section includes hotels, restaurants, catering companies as well as bars, cafés and canteen operators. The Traders section includes small grocery stores and kiosks. The majority of all customer groups are small and medium-sized enterprises as well as sole traders. METRO helps them manage their business challenges more effectively. MGSC, location wise is present in Pune (India), Düsseldorf (Germany) and Szczecin (Poland). We provide HR, Finance, IT & Business operations support to 31 countries, speak 24+ languages and process over 18,000 transactions a day. We are setting tomorrow’s standards for customer focus, digital solutions, and sustainable business models. For over 10 years, we have been providing services and solutions from our two locations in Pune and Szczecin. This has allowed us to gain extensive experience in how we can best serve our internal customers with high quality and passion. We believe that we can add value, drive efficiency, and satisfy our customers Position Summary As the Demand and Supply Planning Lead, you will be at the heart of our "Wholesale to the max" (sCore) strategy, driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction. You will lead a team of Demand and Supply Planners, overseeing the end-to-end planning process for our diverse product assortment across all channels (Cash & Carry, Food Service Distribution). This role is critical for ensuring optimal product availability, managing inventory efficiently, and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making within our integrated planning framework. You will be a key player in leveraging our advanced planning systems, including Blue Yonder (MDSP) and our EDGE analytics platform, to achieve our ambitious business goals. Key Responsibilities 1. Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Demand and Supply Planners, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics (KPIs) for the team, aligned with SCM objectives. Champion the "Day in the Life Of" (DILO) best practices for planners, ensuring standardized and efficient daily and weekly workflows. Act as the primary point of contact and escalation for the planning team, providing guidance and resolving complex issues. 2. Demand Planning & Forecasting: Oversee the demand planning process, ensuring the generation of accurate statistical forecasts at the Demand Forecasting Unit (DFU) level. Guide the team in managing forecast exceptions, analysing historical sales data, and incorporating market intelligence to refine forecasts. Collaborate with Category Management and Sales to integrate promotional plans and pricing programs (e.g., Metro Mail, Buy More Pay Less - BMPL), new product introductions (NPI), and product lifecycle (PLC) changes into the demand plan. Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy and bias, utilizing tools like EDGE Analytics for root cause analysis. 3. Supply & Inventory Management: Supervise the supply planning process within our Metro Demand and Supply Planning (MDSP) system to ensure high availability while optimizing stock levels. Oversee the creation and management of purchase orders (POs) and sales orders (SOs), including the approval process for manual order requests (MORs). Implement and monitor inventory strategies, including the "Smart Safety Stock" (SmartSS) methodology, to balance between service levels, inventory and E2E costs. Manage different supply chain flows, including Direct Store Delivery (DSD), Central Stock (CS), and Break-Bulk Cross-Docking (BBXD), ensuring optimal configuration and execution. Collaborate with the Supplier Collaboration team to improve On-Time In-Full (OTIF) performance and resolve supply-side issues. 4. Process & System Optimization: Act as a key user and subject matter expert for the MDSP (Blue Yonder) platform, driving its adoption and effective utilization. Identify opportunities for process automation and efficiency gains, leveraging tools like our AI-powered EDGE MAiA. Ensure master data integrity for all planning-relevant fields (e.g., lead times, MOQs, sourcing rules, calendars) by working closely with Master Data Management (MDM) and IT teams. Participate in the design and implementation of new planning functionalities and system upgrades 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting: Lead and participate in key S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) meetings, including Demand Best-Practice and Demand Consensus meetings, to align all stakeholders on a single, integrated plan. Communicate supply chain performance, risks, and opportunities to senior management and other departments. Utilize the Replenishment Dashboard and other BI tools to monitor KPIs and provide actionable insights to the business. Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience: Minimum of 10-13 years of experience in demand and supply planning, preferably within the retail, wholesale, or FMCG industry. At least 5 years of experience in a leadership or team management role. Proven track record of improving key supply chain metrics (e.g., availability, inventory turnover, forecast accuracy). Technical Skills: Essential: Hands-on experience with advanced planning systems. Strong preference for JDA/Blue Yonder Demand & Fulfillment (MDSP). Proficient in using ERP systems and understanding data flows between systems. Strong analytical skills with experience using BI and data visualization tools (e.g., Google Data Studio, Tableau, MSI). Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Knowledge of SQL and experience with large datasets (e.g., Google BigQuery) is a significant plus. Soft Skills: Excellent leadership and people management skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across different functions and cultures. Proactive, results-oriented, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Fluent in English; proficiency in German or another language is an asset. What We Offer A pivotal role in a major international company undergoing an exciting wholesale transformation. The opportunity to lead a talented team and make a significant impact on business performance. A collaborative and innovative work environment where your ideas are valued. Access to cutting-edge technology and analytics tools, including our proprietary EDGE MAiA AI-powered platform. Continuous learning and development opportunities within our global SCM community.