Forecasting Analyst – Supply Chain Planning

Job Description

The Forecasting Analyst will be responsible for creating and maintaining the statistically driven forecast for their portfolio across the full horizon. This will be achieved by reviewing the system-generated statistical forecast in E2Open and resolving exceptions through collaboration with associates in markets, the Centre of Excellence, and external service providers as needed.

Mars is setting up the Centre of Excellence as the driving force of a human-centric digital planning transformation. Want to be part of this uplifting transformation by driving the usage of AI forecasting in day-to-day business? Read more below.

This position is aimed at experienced planning professionals. We are specifically looking for candidates with 5+ years of hands-on experience in Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Forecasting, or S&OP environments. Candidates without relevant planning experience will not be considered.

FIT for YOU?

• Enthused to boost your team’s journey with your digital skills?
• Inspired to be part of the team that digitally reimagines the way we work at Mars?
• Want to practice your digital muscle and ability to engage others on the journey?

What will be your key responsibilities?

Key to this role is ensuring that the statistical forecast is communicated and explained to the markets and planning team so the forecast is accepted and not overridden. This requires the ability to evaluate findings, provide insights, and clearly communicate to stakeholders.

It is the Forecast Analyst’s goal to create a forecast that is trusted and used as a common starting point by the full business. This entails:

• Collecting all relevant and available datapoints
• Cleaning the data or creating a feedback loop with users to clean it
• Creating a statistical forecast by choosing the best-fitting model per product
• Manually enhancing the forecast to reflect factors that cannot be incorporated in the model
• Researching demand drivers and aligning them with the Market Collaboration Lead
• Being involved in discussions with different stakeholders to explain findings in layman’s terms and drive continuous improvement of the models and how they are explained and applied
• Monitoring and reporting on specific KPIs such as forecast accuracy, forecast bias, MAPE, and forecast value add at multiple levels and lags, and providing insights on contributing factors and recommendations for improvement opportunities in data accessibility, process, data quality, statistical modelling, or forecast visualization and explanation
• Providing education to business users of the statistical forecast and collecting feedback on how to make the output more relevant and valuable to them
• For new product developments, analyzing and discussing with the Market Collaboration Lead to generate the initial forecast of those items, as well as considering cannibalization impacts

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Engineering, Business Analytics, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Forecasting, S&OP, or Integrated Business Planning within a complex FMCG, CPG, manufacturing, or retail environment
• This role requires hands-on experience in a supply chain planning function. Internship experience, graduate projects, traineeships, and academic research do not count towards the required years of experience
• 3+ years of experience in forecasting, statistical modelling, or Demand Planning in industrial or consumer goods (CPG)
• Understanding of demand drivers, building blocks, outliers, and demand-shaping characteristics, preferably within CPG
• Strong analytical skills and passion to understand differences and variation
• Ability to present complex analysis in understandable forms to business stakeholders
• Passion to help others excel by building digital capability together
• Experience with statistical forecasting tools such as R, Python, or SaaS
• Experience with demand sensing and machine learning algorithms
• Experience with ERP and Advanced Planning Systems, preferably E2Open or RapidResponse
• Understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis, such as 5 whys
• Fluent in English

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles
• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University