Planning Manager

1. Position OverviewThe Planning Manager is responsible for end-to-end planning and inventory management across all business units. The role oversees demand planning, production planning, replenishment, and inventory control for both trading items and raw materials used in manufacturing. The Planning Manager drives the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensures optimal stock levels, and leads a cross-functional planning team to achieve supply continuity, cost efficiency, and service level targets. 2. Key Responsibilities A. Demand Planning & Forecasting • Develop and maintain rolling demand forecasts (monthly / quarterly / annual) across all product categories — medical devices, consumables, and raw materials. • Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Business Unit Managers to gather market intelligence and incorporate into statistical forecast models. • Monitor forecast accuracy (MAPE / Bias) and implement corrective actions to continuously improve forecasting precision. • Analyze historical sales data, seasonality, product lifecycle stages, and market trends to refine demand signals. B. Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) • Facilitate and chair the monthly S&OP cycle: Pre-S&OP demand review, supply review, financial reconciliation, and Executive S&OP sign-off. • Prepare S&OP meeting packs including demand vs. supply gap analysis, inventory projections, and risk/opportunity registers. • Ensure alignment between commercial commitments and supply capacity across all 7 business units. • Track and communicate consensus plan to procurement, warehouse, and finance teams. C. Inventory Management & Optimization • Define and maintain optimum inventory levels — safety stock, reorder points, and min/max parameters — using ABC/XYZ segmentation across ~4,000 active SKUs. • Monitor inventory health metrics: Days of Supply on Hand (DSOH), stock coverage, excess & obsolete (E&O) inventory, and slow-moving items. • Execute periodic physical inventory counts and cycle counts; reconcile system vs. physical balances in ERP system. • Drive inventory reduction initiatives without compromising service levels; maintain target fill rate across all product categories. • Manage shelf-life and expiry risk for medical consumables and pharmaceutical-grade raw materials. D. Production Planning (MTO / MTS) • Develop and release Master Production Schedules (MPS) for Make-to-Stock (MTS) and Make-to-Order (MTO) products aligned with capacity constraints. • Coordinate with Manufacturing and Quality teams to incorporate production lead times, batch sizes, and changeover requirements into plans. • Monitor production adherence to plan (Schedule Attainment %) and escalate deviations in a timely manner. • Plan raw material requirements using MRP outputs and ensure materials are available ahead of production schedules. E. Purchase Requisitions (PRs) • Issue and manage Purchase Requisitions (PRs) for all trading items, raw materials, and imported goods across 40+ foreign agents/suppliers. • Review and approve replenishment orders generated from MRP/DRP runs in ERP system • Coordinate with the Procurement team on supplier lead times, MOQs, LC requirements, and import documentation to align purchase plans. • Manage order prioritization during supply shortages or disruptions, ensuring critical items are sourced on time. F. Team Leadership & Development • Directly manage and develop the planning team (demand planners, inventory analysts, production planners, and data analysts). • Set clear KPIs, conduct regular performance reviews, and build individual development plans for team members. • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional collaboration. • Conduct training on planning tools, ERP system usage, and best-practice supply chain methodologies. G. Reporting & Analytics • Prepare and present monthly planning dashboards covering: DSOH, forecast accuracy, stock coverage, fill rate, E&O value, and PR/PO cycle time. • Provide the Supply Chain Director with regular insights on supply risks, inventory exposure, and improvement opportunities. • Develop and maintain ERP reports and Power BI / Excel dashboards for planning performance tracking. 3. Required QualificationsEducation • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Pharmacy, or a related field.Professional Experience • Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, with at least 3 years in a managerial role. • Proven experience in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, or FMCG industry — preferably within Egypt or the MENA region. • Demonstrated track record of managing planning for both trading (import) and manufacturing (MTO/MTS) environments. • Hands-on experience managing large SKU portfolios (>1,000 SKUs) with multiple product categories and diverse supplier bases. • Prior exposure to S&OP facilitation and cross-functional stakeholder management at a senior level.Professional Certifications (Preferred) • CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) • Preferred 4. Required Skills & CompetenciesTechnical Skills • Deep expertise in demand planning, MRP/DRP, MPS, safety stock modelling, and inventory optimization techniques. • Proficiency with ERP systems — MS Dynamics 365 (preferred), or equivalent; ability to configure and leverage planning modules. • Strong command of ABC/XYZ inventory segmentation, EOQ/ROP models, and service-level target setting. • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, solver, scenario modelling); experience with Power BI or similar BI tools is a plus. • Familiarity with import/export operations, LC mechanics, and coordination with foreign agents and freight forwarders. • Understanding of medical device regulatory requirements (MOHP, GAFI registrations) as they affect planning lead times. • Knowledge of manufacturing planning concepts: capacity planning, OEE, batch manufacturing, and BOM management. Leadership & Soft Skills • Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop a diverse planning team. • Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills — comfortable translating data into actionable business decisions. • Effective communicator at all organizational levels; capable of presenting complex supply plans to senior management. • High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities under time pressure. • Collaborative cross-functional mindset; skilled at influencing without direct authority (sales, finance, operations). • Continuous improvement orientation — proactively identifies process gaps and drives structured solutions. • Fluent in Arabic and English (written and spoken). Education • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Pharmacy, or a related field.Professional Experience • Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, with at least 3 years in a managerial role. • Proven experience in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, or FMCG industry — preferably within Egypt or the MENA region. • Demonstrated track record of managing planning for both trading (import) and manufacturing (MTO/MTS) environments. • Hands-on experience managing large SKU portfolios (>1,000 SKUs) with multiple product categories and diverse supplier bases. • Prior exposure to S&OP facilitation and cross-functional stakeholder management at a senior level.Professional Certifications (Preferred) • CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) • Preferred Education • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Pharmacy, or a related field.Professional Experience • Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, with at least 3 years in a managerial role. • Proven experience in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, or FMCG industry — preferably within Egypt or the MENA region. • Demonstrated track record of managing planning for both trading (import) and manufacturing (MTO/MTS) environments. • Hands-on experience managing large SKU portfolios (>1,000 SKUs) with multiple product categories and diverse supplier bases. • Prior exposure to S&OP facilitation and cross-functional stakeholder management at a senior level.Professional Certifications (Preferred) • CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) • Preferred