Demand Planning Manager
About the Role:
The Demand Planning Manager, South East Asia role leads the demand planning agenda across a complex, multi‑country SEA distribution network, managing 300+ SKUs and driving accurate Sales‑to‑Distributor forecasts.
The role is critical in enabling an efficient, cost‑effective, and agile supply chain by leading the regional S&OP process and partnering closely with respective internal teams and external distributors. This position requires strong leadership, analytical rigor, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across functions and markets.
Main Responsibilities:
- Act as Business Process Owner for the regional S&OP process, ensuring strong alignment across Commercial, Finance, and Operations teams
- Define and drive the strategy, governance, and resourcing required for a best‑in‑class integrated planning process
- Lead the rollout of S&OP ways of working and strategic planning initiatives across SEA
- Lead and continuously improve demand planning and forecast accuracy processes to enhance forward demand visibility
- Develop baseline demand and market‑level forecasts, integrating commercial, trade, and distributor inputs
- Own and improve key KPIs including Forecast Accuracy, Stock Coverage, Obsolescence, Freshness, and Cost Productivity
- Ensure inventory levels are managed in line with company policies and targeted days of supply
- Proactively manage high stock and aging inventory risks in collaboration with Sales and Operations teams
- Ensure data integrity across planning systems and enable end‑to‑end planning for key brands
- Partner with central teams to define and implement the planning tools roadmap locally
- Lead cross‑functional projects to improve planning efficiency, optimisation, and capability maturity
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across demand, supply, and inventory planning
- Lead, coach, and develop a team, fostering high performance and a continuous improvement mindset
About You:
- University degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline
- Strong relevant experience in demand planning, supply chain, or integrated business planning
- Proven experience leading S&OP / IBP processes in a regional or complex environment
- Strong knowledge of forecasting methodologies and demand planning best practices, strategic thinking with strong execution capability
- Solid understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain processes (demand, supply, inventory, logistics)
- Excellent analytical, planning, and problem‑solving skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
- Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
- Demonstrated people leadership and cross‑functional collaboration experience
- Continuous improvement and customer‑focused mindset
- Experience with SAP (ECC, APO), BW, demand planning systems, and advanced Microsoft Excel
Our Benefits & Perks:
Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.
About Ferrero:
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.
DE&I at Ferrero:
Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
Find out more here.