Demand Planning Manager, UAE

Constantly looking for better ways to nourish the world, General Mills has been operating in the Middle East for almost 20 years. Managing businesses in more than 20 countries, we offer trusted, quality brands and exceptional opportunities for those with the entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and cultural awareness to excel. We have been innovating in significant ways, not just in our brands and products, but also in adapting to the communities we proudly serve. Exceptional employee engagement happens when an organization is conscious and purposeful about it. In a bid to make food the world loves, we pay utmost attention to the capabilities of our people and the strengths of our culture. We ensure a workplace that enables learning to happen anytime, anywhere. Some of our big brands are Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Green Giant, Old El Paso & Haagen Dazs.

Company Description

We serve the world by making food people love. As one of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills believes that food should make us better.

Food brings us joy and nourishes our lives, connecting us to each other and the earth. General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant and more.

We seek out the best talent, offer them great development, trust and support and the chance to lead something big. Choosing a career with General Mills means joining a company where you can make a difference in the lives of millions of people. There is tremendous opportunity here for individuals who want to advance food through innovation and serve the world.

We are looking for a passionate Demand Planning Manager to manage Distributor Markets in Middle Eastern and African Markets, based out of Dubai, UAE.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the demand planning process for MEA markets using statistical capabilities, market data and inputs from all relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Build 24-months rolling in market sales and shipment SKU level forecast for all relevant markets, provide visibility into demand risks and opportunities, including scenario and sensitivity analysis.
• Partner with regional supply planners and Customer Service & Logistics team to ensure stock availability against the customer orders.
• Monitor inventory health metrics, including inventory days of coverage (DOH), availability, service levels and stock obsolescence risks.
• Provide insights to influence stock/shipment re-allocation decisions of internal or external stakeholders to maintain freshness and availability.
• Review and align the orders received from the customers with customers/commercial team to make sure they are in line with the prompted orders and business outlook.
• Ensure that supply related constraints are addressed, phase-in/phase-out plans are done and discussed with the relevant plant or supply chain teams and actioned.
• Be the supply chain spoke for new product launches ensure that these initiatives are executed as per the targeted volumes, values and timelines.
• Lead Demand Reviews and Demand Validation Meetings as part of our S&OP process, participate in Market Business Reviews
• Implement and manage CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment) processes with key distributor partners to enhance forecast reliability, availability and service levels.
• Champion continuous improvement in forecasting processes, planning tools, and data quality.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Economics or a related field
• 5-8 years’ experience in Demand Planning, Supply Planning, or S&OP within the FMCG sector
• Proven experience in distributor-led markets and managing demand processes across multiple geographies
• Strong analytical and numerical ability, proficiency in Excel and planning tools (SAP APO/IBP, OMP)
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across functions and regions with effective negotiation skills
• A proven “doer” who acts with speed and agility to deliver results
• Deep understanding of forecasting methodologies, inventory dynamics and S&OP processes
• Experience in CPFR and collaborative forecasting with customers/distributors
• Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and ability to work in a dynamic environment
• Fluency in English
  
  

Required: Work Attributes/Qualities

• Interpersonal skills with the confidence to challenge.
• Proactive approach, working with minimum supervision
• Teamwork
• Results Orientation
• Multi-tasker
• Ability to work with tight deadlines
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to influence
  
  

Company Overview

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.