Vadilal - Supply Planner

Job Title: Central Supply Planner Location: Head Office (HO), Bopal , Ahmedabad Function: Supply Chain / Planning Department: Manufacturing Level: Manager / Senior Manager/AGM Reporting To: Head of Manufacturing Role Purpose: The Supply Planner, based at HO, will lead the supply planning agenda by translating the approved demand plan into a realistic, capacity-feasible and service-oriented supply plan. The role will anchor the S&OP process, conduct rough-cut capacity planning (RCCP), identify capacity and supply constraints across plants, and work cross-functionally with Demand Planning, plant teams, procurement and logistics to deliver high service levels, optimized inventory and disciplined production planning. Key Responsibilities: S&OP Leadership and Governance: - Lead the monthly S&OP cycle, including supply review preparation, constraint review, scenario planning and escalation of key business risks. - Convert the consensus demand plan into an executable supply plan aligned with plant capacities, inventory targets and service-level expectations. - Drive structured decision-making on demand-supply gaps, prioritization, allocation and production trade-offs. Rough-Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP): - Prepare short-, medium- and long-range capacity outlook by line, plant, SKU family and critical resource. - Identify bottlenecks across production lines, manpower, cold storage/warehouse capacity, utilities, materials and logistics readiness. - Recommend mitigation actions such as line balancing, overtime/shift planning, outsourcing/co-packing, inventory pre-build, SKU prioritization or CAPEX trigger points. Plant Coordination and Constraint Management: - Work closely with plant teams to validate production feasibility, changeover constraints, maintenance shutdowns, yield losses, quality holds and manpower limitations. - Maintain a live view of supply constraints including RM/PM availability, vendor lead times, plant downtime, cold-chain limitations and dispatch constraints. - Ensure timely escalation of supply risks with fact-based alternatives and recovery plans. Demand-to-Supply Plan Conversion: - Collaborate with Demand Planner and Sales teams to understand forecast assumptions, seasonality, activation plans, new product launches and regional requirements. - Convert SKU-wise and region/depot-wise demand into production, dispatch and inventory plans. - Ensure the final supply plan supports the sales plan while balancing freshness, working capital and operational efficiency. Inventory and Service-Level Management: - Monitor finished goods inventory, ageing, stock cover, slow-moving stock and replenishment priorities across plants/depots. - Support inventory policies for seasonal build-up, peak demand readiness, minimum stock levels and capacity-led allocation. - Track service levels, plan adherence and stock-out risks; coordinate corrective actions with stakeholders. Planning Systems, Data and Reporting: - Maintain planning master data, capacity assumptions, planning calendars, production constraints and forecast versions in the planning system or master planning file. - Publish weekly/monthly supply planning dashboards covering capacity utilization, demand-supply gaps, plan adherence, inventory health and action trackers. - Drive continuous improvement in planning accuracy, data discipline, process governance and digital planning tools. Key Experience / Skillset: - Strong understanding of S&OP, demand-supply balancing, supply planning, production planning and inventory management. - Hands-on experience in rough-cut capacity planning, line capacity analysis, bottleneck identification and constraint-based planning. - Ability to work with plant teams and convert operational constraints into clear planning assumptions and business decisions. - Good analytical skills with strong command over Excel; experience with ERP/MRP/APS tools such as SAP, Oracle, Kinaxis, O9, Anaplan or similar systems is preferred. - Understanding of manufacturing KPIs such as capacity utilization, plan adherence, OTIF/service level, inventory days, freshness/ageing and production efficiency. - Strong cross-functional coordination, stakeholder management and communication skills. Required Experience: - 8 - 12 years of experience in supply planning, production planning, S&OP, demand-supply management or related supply chain planning roles. - At least 3 years of direct experience in S&OP execution or supply planning in an FMCG, foods, dairy, ice cream, frozen food, beverages, pharma or process manufacturing environment. - Experience working with multiple plants, high SKU complexity, seasonal demand cycles and constrained capacity environments will be an advantage. - Exposure to cold-chain, perishable or shelf-life-sensitive products is desirable. Qualification: - Bachelors degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Commerce or related discipline. - MBA / PGDM in Operations, Supply Chain or Logistics is preferred. - Certification in APICS CPIM/CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, S&OP/IBP, advanced Excel, Power BI or supply chain analytics will be an added advantage. Desired Skills and Attributes: - Structured, data-driven and detail-oriented planning mindset. - High ownership and ability to drive closure across functions without direct reporting authority. - Strong problem-solving ability during supply disruptions, peak-season pressure and capacity shortages. - Commercial understanding of how planning decisions impact sales, working capital, logistics cost and customer service. - Comfort with senior management reviews and ability to present clear options, assumptions, risks and recommendations. Desired Role Level: - Recommended level: Manager/Senior Manager Supply Planning, depending on candidate experience and organization structure. - Role should be positioned as an HO planning governance role with strong dotted-line working relationship with plant PPC/planning teams.