Sales and Operations Planning Analyst

**OVERVIEW**:
The Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) Analyst continually analyses and actively coordinates customer demand forecast, creates and executes purchasing and inventory management tactics and reports to support strategic business plans. The role is critical in linking the needs of Sales to the capabilities of the Supplier. The primary objectives of this role are ensuring high level of accuracy of sourcing, ordering, issuing of documents, and controlling inventory. The position requires strong relationship building across multi-disciplines within GAPL (operations, sales, marketing, finance, logistics, HR, IT) and external groups (suppliers and customers).

**THE ROLE***:
2. Forecast Planning:

- Enter and monitor forecast and customer demand data in the ERP
- Liaise with sales and marketing to ensure forecasts and inventory are aligned with selling and promotional plans
- Work with product managers to ensure product life cycles are maintained, that new products are launched in a timely manner, and that obsolete products are phased out in accordance with company plans.
- Maintain adequate stock to ensure forecasted demand is met and service levels are within targets.

3. Supply Chain Requirements
- Basing on forecast, analyze each Gates product, lead times for order and replenishment, and supplier KPIs.
- Derive stocking policy between DC/Logistic/Supplier and replenishment process to maintain optimum safety stock and to achieve intended inventory turn-over (ITO) targets
- Continual review of inventory status, supply and demand requirements, order health to ensure on-time delivery and optimum inventory holding
- Sourcing and purchasing of products in accordance with approved and preferred vendor list

4. Communicate strategic goals, inventory management plans, initiatives, and targets to suppliers, and sourcing teams

5. Inventory holding cost optimization through improvement activities

6. Quarterly and monthly cycle of safety stock review & adjustment in system

7. Compliance to item master maintenance

8. Ensure all purchasing activities performed meet any legal requirements and are in line with the company's policy and Delegation of Authority schedule

9. Complete additional assignments as required by the immediate manager

**CONTACTS**:
Internal - Operations, Finance Department, Sales and Sales Support personnel, and Management.

External - Sales Agents / Distributors and Suppliers

**TRAVEL**: None expected

**MINIMUM REQUIRED SKILLS**:

- Must have strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with different functions and leaders both locally and internationally.
- Must demonstrate superior communication skills, written and verbal
- Must demonstrate the ability to work efficiently under pressure and possess an organized, methodical approach to completion of duties
- Must be patient to do follow ups
- Must be proactive and takes lead in related areas of responsibility when consulted.
- Must possess high integrity in carrying out day to day job responsibilities.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
- Must have a minimum 3-5 years of work experience in purchasing or background in procurement and logistics. Experience in Customer Service is highly regarded.
- Must have Tertiary degree in Business, Statistics or equivalent field, or equivalence in work experience
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word
- Knowledge and experience in procurement and inventory control management
- Knowledge of ERP/MRP (SAP, Oracle will be an advantage)
- Must have full Australian work right status

**PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Multinational company working experience will be an advantage
- Preferably have implemented an S&OP process from scratch