Supply Planning Team Lead

Overview:
**The Opportunity**:
This **Supply Planning Team Lead (Buffer)**role is designed to provide stability, continuity, and leadership during a transition period within the cluster. You will play a key role ensuring uninterrupted Supply Planning operations across 2-3 market units while processes, responsibilities, and ways of working evolve.

You will lead a team of planners and coordinators, serve as the first point of escalation for your category, and act as the main connection between the GCC Planning Hub and the Markets. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys building structure, and can lead teams through change with clarity and confidence.

**Responsibilities**:
**Your Impact**:
**Leadership & Governance**:

- Lead the cluster Supply Planning team (8-10 direct reports), including planners, innovation coordinators, and master data specialists.

- Guide the team through multiple transition phases, ensuring stability and successful adoption of new processes.

- Represent Supply Planning for the category in key cross-functional and strategic Market discussions.

- Serve as the **first escalation point** for operational issues within the cluster.

**Supply Planning Excellence**:

- Oversee the creation of optimized cross-site production plans that maintain target inventory levels and ensure strong service to Market Units.

- Develop constrained capacity plans within the planning horizon and escalate risks when necessary.

- Review and validate detailed line scheduling plans.

- Identify risks and mitigation opportunities, escalating where appropriate.

- Ensure accurate and timely master data management.

- Lead the management and tracking of the innovation pipeline.

**Performance, Analysis & Continuous Improvement**:

- Monitor key supply performance metrics, highlight underperforming processes, and drive corrective actions.

- Conduct root-cause analysis for service gaps and support action plan development.

- Act as the main interface with the Demand Fulfilment Manager for issue resolution and alignment.

- Drive adoption of current systems and lead the Run-to-Standard agenda for the Supply Planning area.

- Ensure compliance with planning standards, KPIs, and data discipline across the team.

**S&OP / IS&OE Responsibilities**:

- Prepare, contribute to, and execute Supply Review sessions for the Platform/Hub as part of weekly IS&OE and monthly S&OP cycles, including SMR.

- Align production plans with market requirements, productivity initiatives, and inventory targets.

Qualifications:
**Qualifications**:

- **Fluent in English** (written and oral skills).
- Bachelor's Degree in **Engineering**, Supply Chain or related.

- **6 - 8 years of strong experience in Supply Planning**, ideally in multi-market or regional planning environments.

- Proven **people management experience** (leading 8-10 direct reports).

- **Intermediate Excel**(pivot charts and tables, data cleansing, or related).
- Solid understanding of end-to-end supply chain processes and systems.

- Strong category planning knowledge.

- Advanced analytical skills and attention to detail.

- Experience in innovation planning and/or master data.

**Abilities & Skills**:

- Team leadership and coaching skills.

- Structured problem-solving capabilities.

- Strong stakeholder management and ability to collaborate across functions and geographies.

- Understanding of planning methodologies such as heuristics, optimization, and capacity management.

- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and establishing clarity during transition periods.