Market Demand Planner (Malaysia)

Position Purpose

·       Own the market demand forecast and coordinate a clear, fact-based consensus demand plan.

·       Integrate statistical forecasts with commercial, customer, innovation and market inputs.

·       Improve forecast accuracy, identify risks and opportunities, and provide timely demand insights for supply and business decisions.

Key Accountabilities & Performance Indicators

1. Demand Forecasting

·       Maintain rolling forecast by market, customer/channel and SKU, using the statistical forecast as the starting point.

·       Apply appropriate methods for base demand, seasonality, promotions, launches and product lifecycle changes.

·       Document key assumptions and reasons for material forecast changes.

2. Consensus Planning

·       Lead the market demand review with Commercial, Marketing, Finance and Innovation stakeholders.

·       Challenge and track commercial overrides, ensuring they are evidence-based and attributable.

·       Align and obtain market sign-off before regional forecast review; escalate material gaps or changes.

3. Market and Innovation Inputs

·       Incorporate customer, channel, order, tender, promotion and market intelligence into the forecast.

·       Build and update launch, relaunch and discontinuation forecasts with Innovation leads.

·       Review NPD actual performance and apply learning to future forecasts.

4. Risks, Scenarios and Performance

·       Maintain demand risks and opportunities, including timing, impact, triggers and owners.

·       Prepare base, upside and downside scenarios for material uncertainties.

·       Investigate significant forecast misses, quantify business impact where possible and track corrective actions.

Key Working Relationships

Internal

·       Market Commercial and Marketing team; Innovation leads; Commercial Finance; Regional Statistical Forecast Analyst; Regional Supply Chain Managers; Group Supply Planners.

External

·       Distributors, customers, commercial partners and data providers, where relevant.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

·       Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Statistics or a related discipline.

·       Minimum 3 years of demand planning, supply chain planning, S&OP/IBP or similar analytical experience; pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare or FMCG experience is advantageous.

·       Knowledge of statistical forecasting, forecast accuracy, bias, trend, seasonality and product segmentation.

·       Experience with ERP or planning systems such as SAP or SAP IBP, advanced Excel and data visualisation tools.

·       Strong analytical, facilitation, communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.

·       Ability to translate data into clear business insights and constructively challenge assumptions.

Personal Attributes

·       Commercially curious, analytical and evidence-led.

·       Collaborative, confident and constructive in challenging assumptions.

·       Proactive, organised and accountable for data quality and deadlines.

·       Adaptable and comfortable working with uncertainty and changing priorities.

·       Clear communicator with a continuous-improvement mindset.