Demand Planner at Diageo

About the Role

The Demand Planner Role is a key role within the IBP structure responsible for the utilization of next generation demand planning tools to generate a multivariate statistical forecast considering variables such as category growth, market share, pricing, promotions, sell out, stock in trade and economic factors influencing demand. The planner will create statistical forecast models to support the monthly IBP process including using mathematical and statistical trends to see opportunities and risk. The demand planner will own and drive statistical forecast accuracy performance to achieve targets.

They will collaborate with the IBP Lead and Baseline Planners (where applicable) on history adjustments to drive robust statistical forecasts. The demand planner is responsible for data integrity, ensuring that the systems are maintained and updated with the correct history to deliver the most accurate forecast for the business.

Top Accountabilities:

• Pro-actively works with the IBP Lead and baseline planners, owning the statistical forecast and highlighting deviations to the shipment and/or depletion trends.
• Use and maintain the planning software as the primary forecasting system tool. o Collaborate with IBP Leads and other departments on all forecast history cleaning activities including documenting adjustments and assumptions (market trends, seasonality, promotions).
• Maintain statistical parameters for “best fit” model & generate a baseline at least 18 months rolling.
• Maintain system master data including CVC creation, disaggregation factors and attributes.
• Analyze outliers through appropriate reports and make corrections.
• Support scenario planning for promotions, innovation, and major events (duty, economics change, etc.) through stat analysis.
• Provide reports and insights to collaborators to improve the use of statistical forecasting forecast.
• facilitate a monthly Demand Planning cycle, including the collection of information from relevant business collaborators, the alignment of key changes, and the delivery of a consensus on inputs and impact from commercial and other business collaborators.
• create and maintain an integrated demand plan, which shows a realistic bottom-up view of expected demand using a combination of statistical forecasting, performance insight, building blocks and assumptions, and demand planning competence and knowledge.
• Generate multivariate advanced Statistical Forecasting, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Create and maintain the statistical forecast for the market monthly This includes data management, solution management and technology use and integration.
• Create and maintain the demand plan for the market monthly, by combining the statistical baseline, building blocks and assumptions and other plans and data to create a single demand plan.
• Understand the detail underpinning demand plans and changes and maintains appropriate information to support information requests.
• Support the management of Opportunities and Risks in the Demand Plan
• Support the analysis of Demand Plan performance (accuracy and bias)
• Works to maintain an efficient integrated digital process to deliver the monthly demand plan. This includes management of appropriate master data and system change requests.
• Supports the development of market scenarios and plans as required. - Develops a key understanding of dynamic market drivers and how they impact overall demand and uses this information to validate or challenge market demand assumptions.
• Supports the Pre-Demand Review as required.
• Supports the S&OE process as required.
• Develops focused and enhanced capabilities to harness the demand planning process for value including the use of analytics, data modelling, demand sensing and artificial intelligence.
• Supports the digitisation of planning processes through the elimination of manual processes and information.
• Supports the continuous improvement of business processes in their area of work.

Provide key input to S&OP/IBP process:

• Participate where relevant in IBP process to align upon consensus forecast.
• Review statistical input to Strategic Planning and AOP process and challenge projected growth based on historical trends.
• Collaborate with IBP Lead and Baseline Planner to conduct root cause analysis to identify drivers of forecast error and work together to take the necessary corrective action to drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy and bias performance.

Continuously improve statistical forecasting method:

• Test and implement new models.
• Implement best practices.
• Support system developments

Experience, skills and capabilities required

The demand planner will be expected to display the flowing amongst other skills to be successful:

• The ability to translate AI and Machine learning into business language.
• Model algorithms using the latest data and technology.
• Display critical thinking and digital dexterity by using data to tell a story based on fact and trends.
• Understands the principles that underpin demand planning, including formal education in demand planning and execution to complete work.
• Understand the principles that underpin statistical forecasting.
• Has experience in demand planning in a similar environment using statistical tools, building block assumptions, opportunities and risks, and S&OP/IBP to agree plans.
• Can maintain a statistical dataset, including data cleansing, item relationships and product families to facilitate the delivery of a statistical forecast with minimal rework. Can do this in the appropriate Diageo tool as selected.
• Understand the principles and practices that support Advanced Statistical Forecasting, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, in a way that this knowledge can be used to support existing and future statistical modelling and improvement within Diageo.
• Can manage an advanced building block management process, which is digitally driven, updated using demand sensing and insight, and fully integrated with forecast and O&R to deliver a seamless integration with other business plans.
• Can create and maintain appropriate commercial scenarios as required. This includes articulation of key building blocks and assumptions, the impact of volume, price, promotion, inventory and other related drivers, and the link between decision options and relate outcomes.