Head of Planning - Food | Retail | M&S | UAE
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Al-Futtaim seeks a Head of Planning for Food to lead the planning function across MENA & Asia. The role owns forecasting, replenishment, and inventory planning using RELEX, partnering with Buying, Supply Chain, and Retail Operations.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Lead the Food Planning function across MENA & Asia, establishing governance, planning standards and consistent ways of working
- Own RELEX as the business owner, ensuring the platform delivers maximum business value through forecasting, replenishment and inventory optimisation
- Develop and continuously improve planning policies, planning parameters and planning governance across all Food categories
- Deliver market leading demand forecasting and replenishment performance to maximise availability while optimising inventory investment and waste
- Lead and develop a high performing Demand Planning and Replenishment Planning team through coaching, capability development and succession planning
- Partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Retail, Logistics, Technology and M&S UK to align planning decisions with commercial priorities and operational capability
- Drive planning innovation, automation and continuous improvement through RELEX capabilities, analytics and AI driven planning
- Monitor planning KPIs and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership to improve commercial and operational performance
Requirements
- 10+ years' experience within Retail Planning, Supply Chain Planning or Food Retail
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business Management, Retail, Operations Management or related discipline
- MBA or equivalent professional qualification desirable
- Proven experience leading Planning, Forecasting or Inventory functions
- Experience managing regional or multi market planning operations
- Strong understanding of Demand Planning, Replenishment Planning and Inventory Optimization
- Experience implementing or operating advanced planning platforms (RELEX preferred)
- Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and planning transformation
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders across Commercial, Supply Chain, Retail and Technology functions
Full Job Posting
Overview of the role
- Lead the Food Planning function across MENA & Asia, owning the planning strategy, governance and capability required to maximize the value delivered through RELEX.
- The role is accountable for forecasting, replenishment and inventory planning performance across all Food categories and markets.
- Working closely with Buying, Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Logistics, Technology and M&S UK, the Head of Planning will establish a best in class Planning function.
What you will do
- Lead the Food Planning function across MENA & Asia, establishing governance, planning standards and consistent ways of working.
- Own RELEX as the business owner, ensuring the platform delivers maximum business value through forecasting, replenishment and inventory optimisation.
- Develop and continuously improve planning policies, planning parameters and planning governance across all Food categories.
- Deliver market leading demand forecasting and replenishment performance to maximise availability while optimising inventory investment and waste.
- Lead and develop a high performing Demand Planning and Replenishment Planning team through coaching, capability development and succession planning.
- Partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Retail, Logistics, Technology and M&S UK to align planning decisions with commercial priorities and operational capability.
- Drive planning innovation, automation and continuous improvement through RELEX capabilities, analytics and AI driven planning.
- Monitor planning KPIs and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership to improve commercial and operational performance.
Required Skills
- Advanced Demand Forecasting
- Replenishment & Inventory Planning
- Forecast Accuracy Management
- RELEX (or equivalent AI Planning platform)
- Planning Governance
- Planning Policy & Parameter Management
- Inventory Optimisation
- Data Analytics & KPI Reporting
- SAP
- Power BI / Excel
- Stakeholder Management
- Leadership & Coaching
What equips you for the role
- 10+ years' experience within Retail Planning, Supply Chain Planning or Food Retail.
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business Management, Retail, Operations Management or related discipline.
- MBA or equivalent professional qualification desirable.
- Proven experience leading Planning, Forecasting or Inventory functions.
- Experience managing regional or multi market planning operations.
- Strong understanding of Demand Planning, Replenishment Planning and Inventory Optimization.
- Experience implementing or operating advanced planning platforms (RELEX preferred).
- Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and planning transformation.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders across Commercial, Supply Chain, Retail and Technology functions.
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