Supply Planner Trainee

Job description / Role

Who we are

We are a leading partner for luxury across the Middle East. With more than 600 stores, 300 brands and over 65 years of experience in the region, we have become a major player in the beauty, fashion and gift sectors, by offering service excellence to our partners and delighting all our customers. We are moving fast from a traditional distributor and retailer for luxury in the Middle East, to a hybrid retailer bringing luxury experiences to the fingertips of customers everywhere.

To fuel the next stage of our growth we are looking to build a world class team. From physical retail through to supply chain and customer loyalty, we aim to use technology and data to continuously improve every aspect of our operations. We are looking for top talent to join us on this journey of exploring new horizons together.

What you'll be doing

At Chalhoub, we deliver excellence every day! Working as a supply planner you will manage and lead the validation of demand signals through data analytics. Using historical data, statistical models, and forecast information from Sales, Marketing as well as business knowledge as key inputs to validating demand. You will be directly responsible for ensuring processes are in place to drive forecast accuracy and meet KPIs.

Demand Planning Support

- Work closely with Demand Planners to understand expected forecasts
- Assist in the development of the Demand Plan where needed; determine what is required in the demand, supply and inventory plans to support business needs
- Support any action plans involving price adjustments
- Inventory Management & Fulfilment:
- Identify supply constraints which are business critical and work with supply partners to try and improve them to enable improved planning, inventory and service levels
- Monitor supply planning adherence to demand plan
- Communicate to all relevant stakeholders about adherence to agreed inventory levels to ensure maintenance of performance and immediate response to developing issues
- Identify constraints and options on available space and alert the business to impending issues
- Develop suppliers to achieve capability levels required to support our business
- Secure supplier involvement in internal company initiatives where relevant (joint planning and stock management, new product development etc) to give the business a strategic advantage

Sourcing

- Assist in the setting of sourcing strategies to develop new and emerging sources of supply
- Validate assumptions and robustness of sourcing strategies
- Assess existing and prospective suppliers' capabilities against evolving business needs and ensure that the business has an adequate and sustainable supply base
- Ensure gaps in current and/or potential capabilities are clearly identified and plans are developed to deal with them

Logistics

- Partner with Group Logistics and Group Legal to determine the appropriate standard Incoterms approach to use for each type of cargo and address any violations or code of ethics breach
- Manage the transportation of a portfolio of different cargo types including optimizing fleets and maintaining a distribution network
- Challenge selected methods of transportation and recommend alternative approaches
- Prepare back-up transportation routes to mitigate any potential risks
- Optimize stock allocation in warehouses
- Select the appropriate options to maximize efficiency and service levels
- Ensure strategies, resources and business processes are developed and in place to accommodate inventory returns and ensure inventory planning adjustments are made accordingly
- Partner with internal stakeholders to identify secondary markets or disposal facilities for unsold goods

Cost Management & Analysis

- Identify, propose and, if required, implement agreed changes of portfolio mix in order to optimize the price/mix ratio
- Assess sources of supply and costs using multitiered supply chain costing approaches and apply them throughout the life of a supply agreement
- Identify and implement, where required, opportunities to reduce cost and/or supply risk
- Assess macro-economic factors impacting the costs of products and follow trends to identify potential issues and opportunities
- Leverage market data to analyze any type of external risk (macro-economic risks, foreign exchange risk) and recommend action plan to mitigate risks

Supply Chain Planning

- Perform basic activities to manage the space at the location using siloed solutions (e.g. Excel, Access, CAD, etc.

Requirements

What you'll need to succeed

- Basic knowledge of network design parameters and counterbalancing metrics
- University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain or any relevant field
- Microsoft Office Skills
- High Communication Level

What we can offer you

With us, you will turn your aspirations into reality. We will help shape your journey through enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities and exposure to different assignments within your role or through internal mobility. Our Group offers diverse career paths for those who are extraordinary, every day.

We recognize the value that you bring, and we strive to provide a competitive benefits package which includes health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies as well as exclusive employee discounts.

About the Company

The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the group has become a major player in the fashion, beauty and gift sectors regionally.

By blending its Middle East expertise and intimate knowledge of luxury, Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region, by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers through its passionate teams.

With a growing workforce of more than 9,000 people, implemented in 14 countries, as well as the operating of over 470 retail outlets, the group's success is attributed to its most valued asset of highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group's competitive edge in today's market.

By being committed to implementing sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group has been awarded in 2013 the CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.