Demand Planner (Siqalo) at RCL Foods

Siqalo Foods is on the hunt for a Demand Planner for their Spreads Division. The role will be based in Westville and will report into the Planning Manager.
The Demand Planner will be responsible for working as part of a cross-functional team (Customer, Marketing, Supply Planning and Commercial) to deliver the demand planning & forecasting process within Siqalo Foods Consumer.


Minimum Requirements


Relevant 3-year degree in BCom Economics or related Supply Chain Management.
Diploma in SAPICS (CPIM).
3 years prior experience in demand planning, forecasting or Supply Chain Planning within an FMCG environment.
Previous experience on a planning tool.


Knowledge:


Statistical modelling and forecasting.
Demand planning principles.
Forecast Value Add (FVA).
Forecast bias and accuracy management.
Scenario planning and risk management.
Promotional and event forecasting.
New Product Development (NPD) forecasting.
S&OP.
FMCG customer and market dynamics.
Supply chain and inventory management principles.
Siqalo Foods Consumer business processes and products.
Supply chain principles and practices.
Multiple key performance indicators, inter-relationships and bottom-line sensitivity.


Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Planning:


Execute forward demand planning (rolling 24 months) in line with management requirements.


Sales Analysis:


Analyse weekly and monthly sales trends to generate demand plans, provide recommendations, and drive continuous improvement through cross-functional alignment on base and event forecasts.


Base Demand Planning:


Analyse historical demand, removing anomalies and outliers using market knowledge and sales input.
Apply appropriate statistical forecasting models for each product group.
Generate and adjust base demand forecasts as required.
Investigate demand variances, making recommendations to improve forecast accuracy.
Continuously improve forecasting through root cause analysis and Forecast Value Add methodologies.
Develop demand scenarios to identify risks and opportunities.
Incorporate market intelligence, customer insights, and business assumptions into forecasts.


Events/Promotions Planning:


Use promotional plans and customer input to develop event forecasts.
Collaborate with customer teams to determine promotional volumes and evaluate effectiveness.
Challenge promotional assumptions using historical performance data.
Document promotion assumptions and outcomes.
Ensure accurate depot-level forecasting for promotions and regional demand allocations.


Consolidated Demand Planning and Continuous Improvement:


Present forecasts and assumptions to gain cross-functional consensus.
Publish agreed forecasts through SAP, finance tools, and relevant platforms.
Use Demand Planning KPIs to improve forecast accuracy and reduce volatility.
Analyse historical data to support forecasting decisions.
Prepare and distribute KPI reports, scorecards, and performance updates.


Innovation Management:


Partner with Marketing, Customer, Supply Planning, and R&D teams to forecast new product launches.
Document assumptions supporting innovation forecasts.
Monitor and report innovation KPIs.
Support product discontinuations through accurate bleed-out forecasting.
Use forecasting KPIs to improve accuracy and minimise volatility.
Ensure accurate depot-level forecasting for new product developments (NPDs).


Portfolio Management:


Conduct data analysis to support portfolio management decisions.
Recommend SKU rationalisation opportunities in line with agreed guidelines.


ICSE Process:


Collaborate across functions to prepare and deliver monthly ICSE packs.
Support customer service improvements through forecasting and service KPI analysis.
Provide data for annual and quarterly budgeting processes.
Highlight demand anomalies requiring action outside the normal review cycle.


Master Data & Hierarchies:


Maintain customer and product master data and hierarchies.
Ensure all active SKUs are forecasted and remove forecasts for inactive SKUs.


Projects:


Participate in cross-functional business projects relating to innovation, master data, and demand planning.


Information and Data Management:


Maintain and update demand planning files and reporting systems.
Ensure forecast changes are captured accurately and on time.
Provide reliable data and reports to support business decision-making.
Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, and ad hoc reporting for stakeholders.


Effective Teamwork & Self-Management:


Take ownership of responsibilities and manage priorities effectively.
Maintain high standards of quality and productivity.
Communicate risks, delays, and solutions proactively.
Support company values and stakeholder expectations.
Contribute to team success and continuous improvement.
Champion personal and team development through training initiatives.
Participate in performance management processes and goal setting.
Maintain awareness of employee relations and compliance requirements.


Deadline:18th September,2026