Head of Planning, SSC India

Position Overview – Planning HeadThe Planning Head is responsible for leading the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and managing end-to-end demand and supply planning . The role ensures accurate forecasting, inventory alignment, coordinated supply responses, and cross-functional business alignment. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, collaborative leadership, and deep planning expertise.Key Responsibilities1. Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)- Own and run the monthly S&OP cycle including demand review, supply review, and executive S&OP meetings. - Drive alignment between Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Global Teams. - Build consensus forecasts and ensure commitment on business targets. - Track performance vs. plan and implement corrective actions.2. Demand Planning- Develop SKU-level demand forecasts leveraging statistical tools, historical trends, market insights, and commercial inputs. - Analyze forecast accuracy, bias, and demand variability; implement continuous improvements. - Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to integrate market intelligence, new product introductions, and promotional activities. - Maintain rolling forecasts and scenario analyses for better decision-making.3. Supply Planning- Translate demand forecasts into supply plans in coordination with global factories, procurement, and warehousing teams. - Ensure inventory availability while optimizing working capital and reducing excess/slow-moving stock. - Manage supply constraints, lead-time variability, and capacity bottlenecks. - Develop allocation strategies during shortages and ensure customer priority alignment.4. Inventory Planning & Optimization- Work closely with warehouse and procurement teams to maintain optimal stock levels. - Monitor safety stocks, reorder points, and replenishment strategies. - Drive actions to minimize stockouts, expedite requests, and aging inventory. - Lead inventory health reviews using KPI dashboards.5. Process Excellence & Analytics- Implement best practices in planning including statistical forecasting, ABC/XYZ classification, and segmentation strategies. - Drive digitization through ERP, planning tools, dashboards, and analytics platforms. - Build robust planning SOPs, governance routines, review cadences, and escalation mechanisms.6. Stakeholder Management- Work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Service, Operations, and Global Teams. - Serve as the central point of alignment between demand and supply sides of the business. - Communicate planning insights, risks, and recommendations to leadership.Required Qualifications & Skills- 8–10 years of experience in S&OP, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, or Integrated Business Planning. - Strong analytical skills with expertise in forecasting techniques and planning tools. - Proficiency in SAP, ERP systems, and visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau). - Strong communication, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder management abilities. - Ability to manage ambiguity, lead structured planning cycles, and drive decisions. - Exposure to optical, medical devices, or high-tech product portfolios is an advantage.

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