Integrated Business Planning Manager

SPC is an iconic food manufacturer with a 100-year commitment to playing a positive role in the Australian economy and manufacturing industry. Our commercial business office is in Essendon Fields, Melbourne. Manufacturing and distribution sites located in Victoria’s beautiful Goulburn Valley region, Kuisine and The Good Meal Co. located in Auburn NSW.

This is an exciting time to join our agribusiness as we unlock new growth potential and take our business global. Our business has recently revisited our values with purpose of globalising an iconic Australian brand.

**The Opportunity**:
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Integrated Business Planning Manager to join the passionate SPC team. The Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Manager is responsible for leading and managing the company’s end-to-end IBP process, ensuring alignment between demand, supply, financial plans, and the company’s strategic goals. In an agricultural business, this role is especially critical in managing the complexities of crop cycles, seasonality, and market volatility. The IBP Manager will ensure the accurate forecasting of crop yields, manage supply risks related to crop sanctions and regulatory compliance, and help optimize resources across the organization. A strong focus on cross-functional collaboration between commercial, production, finance, and supply chain teams are essential to align operational activities with the company's short-term and long-term business objectives.

This position will be based at the company’s head office in Essendon Fields with regular interaction with field operations, production facilities (x4), and Commercial teams.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the company's Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration between commercial, production, finance, and supply chain teams to align business plans.
- Ensure that the IBP process integrates and optimizes demand forecasts, supply planning, financial targets, and operational constraints.
- Develop a robust framework for accurate tracking and alignment of crop production with sales forecasts, taking into consideration weather patterns, market trends, and other influencing factors.
- Ensure adherence to crop-related sanctions, import/export restrictions, and regulatory requirements that impact the business.
- Collaborate with the legal and compliance teams to monitor global crop sanctions and ensure the company remains compliant in sourcing, production, and distribution.
- Proactively identify risks related to sanctions or regulatory changes that may affect crop availability or market access and develop contingency plans accordingly.
- Keep senior leadership informed of any shifts in global crop sanctions or agricultural policy that could impact supply chain continuity or profitability.
- Oversee the development of crop demand forecasts, ensuring they are integrated into the IBP process and aligned with production capabilities.
- Collaborate with agronomy, sales, and marketing teams to build accurate demand and yield forecasts based on market trends, customer insights, and crop health.
- Manage supply risks by ensuring an agile planning process that can adjust to crop yield variations, supply chain disruptions, or changes in market conditions.
- Drive scenario planning to address uncertainties in crop production, including climate-related challenges and geopolitical risks affecting key agricultural inputs.
- Ensure that the IBP process aligns with the company’s financial goals, optimizing cost control while meeting demand and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural operations.
- Support the financial planning process by ensuring that crop yield forecasts, sanctions, and production constraints are reflected accurately in financial projections.
- Work with procurement and supply chain teams to manage inventory levels, minimizing waste while ensuring enough supply to meet market demands, particularly under crop sanctions or export restrictions.
- Develop KPI’s and metrics to monitor the effectiveness of the IBP process, including forecast accuracy, supply chain efficiency, and compliance with crop sanctions.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the IBP process.
- Leverage data analytics tools to provide actionable insights into crop production, market conditions, and supply chain performance.
- Foster a culture of accountability and continuous learning across the IBP and cross-functional teams.
- Continually evaluate and put forward recommendations on SPC’s software systems and internal processes to ensure that the S&OP process is meeting best in class performance.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Agriculture, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in supply chain planning, demand forecasting, or IBP management,