Sales & Demand Planning Manager - AFM HO

Job description / Role

Al-Futtaim Motors occupies the pre-eminent position of the largest distributor of automotive products in the Emirates and leads the rapid development of automobile business in the UAE,while continuing to contribute to Toyota's worldwide growth. Today Al- Futtaim Motors is synonymous with Toyota and Lexus,which enjoys undisputed leadership in the UAE in terms of the largest number of vehicles on the road.Besides Toyota,AF Motors also holds exclusive franchises for some of the world's top automobiloes and automotive products like Hino-Japan's leading heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer,Toyo & Chen shin/Maxxis tyres,GS & Panasonic batteries and many more.To provide full back-up support to these world-class franchises,AF Motors have an established network of showrooms and service & parts centre throughout the UAE.

Reporting Relationships: Sales Planning & Distribution Manager
Company: Al Futtaim Motors
Department: Sales Planning & Distribution
Location: Head Office -Dubai Festival City

Role Purpose:
Sales & Demand planning manager will be responsible for the key functions of annual sales plan & demand order plan. Develop demand & sales forecast at multiple levels across distribution channels.

Key Accountabilities:

- The development of the annual & quarterly sales & demand plan with the detail by models and channels.
- Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models and evaluate forecast results.
- Review sales & demand plan monthly with each distribution channels. Review and assess risk to supply and demand variability and identify opportunities to manage and mitigate risk.
- Lead continuous improvement of forecast accuracy & bias by implementing best practice.
- Develop and measure key performance indicators to track and evaluate forecast made, to assist in assessing the effectiveness of the demand planning & forecasting function.
- Interact with sales and marketing to understand forecast demand drivers.
- Regularly review stock levels and procedures to determine the appropriate level of stock required with considering future campaign activity and to place orders.
- Identify overstock and slow moving vehicles and liaise with product manager & sales support manager to resolve issues.
- Hold a regular meeting of sales & demand review.
- All ad hoc reporting, analysis and presentation.
- Work closely with Product, Pricing, Sales Distribution channels to review sales & demand plan
- Report Sales and Market performance.
- Early identification of sales & demand issues and deviation of actuals from plan.
- Recommend Sales & demand plan by month, by model and by variant.
- Through continuous sales and market trends, advice on sales strategy.

Requirements

Knowledge:
- Business and management: principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Sales and Marketing: Understanding of sales planning procedures and AFMs current processes.
- English Language: General language understanding & writing.

Education:
- Minimum of Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent.
- Certifications
- High Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)

Experience:
- Minimum 5 years work experience in analytical and planning role.
- Experienced in automotive processes, business management and distribution operations an added advantage.

Job related Skills:
- Stress Tolerance: High.
- Achievement/Effort: To be proactive and ability to take initiatives
- Active Learning: Continuously learn from experience and professional trainings.
- Communication: Required to communicate with confidence and credibility GM.
- Management of Personnel Resources: Ability to work under pressure. Work proactively with various teams in order to reach company objectives.
- Strong analytical, organisational and administrative skills.
- Proactive approach to problem identification and resolution and to best practice implementation.

Supervises:
- Sales & Demand planning team (approx. 7 associates)

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.