Demand Planner and Buyer

COMPANY BACKGROUND:

Slingco is an award-winning supplier of installation tools for the energy infrastructure industries, including Utility, Oil & Gas and Renewables. With over 40 years of industry heritage, we serve customers in over 80 countries worldwide from our Head Quarters in the UK and distribution centre in the United States.

Our products are used in safety critical applications for a wide range of markets. With sectors including oil & gas, civil engineering, aerospace, transport, utilities, marine/offshore and the military – there is no room for error. That is why we do everything with the utmost care and precision.

We design and manufacture to the highest specifications and test to destruction. If our products do not meet and exceed the most stringent national and international standards, they’re not good enough for our customers.

At Slingco, our goal is to create innovative high-quality products that our customers can depend on, whilst providing a positive experience for our customers and our employees. Every aspect of our work, culture and commitment to innovation is driven by our core values.

• Up to £35,000 per annum
• Company Pension – Enhanced Employer Contributions
• Life Insurance (x4 your salary)
• Onsite Parking
• Gym Membership
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Loan Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

As part of the Supply Chain Team, you will lead the demand planning and analysis process for all finished goods for the USA. You will act as a key link between Sales and Supply Chain to ensure an efficient model for generating future demand - driven by historical sales data, sales forecasts, marketing strategies and inventory positions. You will also be responsible for maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers, focusing on performance improvement through cost reduction initiatives, OTIF performance and the management of NCRs.

• Review historical sales data to identify patterns based on seasonality, market trends and other demand drivers.
• Work closely with the Global Demand Planning Manager and the USA VP of Operations to gather existing customer inputs, potential new customer information and new market introductions.
• Develop an operational demand forecast model using the Demand Planning Software as the primary forecasting tool.
• Validate the sales forecast by regularly comparing forecasts to actual sales and adjusting as necessary to correct any variances.
• Implement strategies in conjunction with the Global Demand Planning Manager to improve forecast accuracy.
• Create and maintain stock policies such as safety stock levels, replenishment cycles and optimum order quantities.
• Manage and maintain inventory levels to ensure stock availability while achieving high stock turn ratios.
• Work closely with the Purchasing Administrator to provide an order profile with planned scheduled deliveries aligned with the sales forecast and inventory policies.
• Coordinate the release of scheduled purchase orders for finished goods to global suppliers.
• Follow up with suppliers regarding order status to ensure on time delivery.
• Review supplier performance and report KPIs such as OTIF and NCRs and manage the closure of NCRs.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives with suppliers.
• Maintain the hotlist and review expediting or push back requirements with suppliers. Ensure customer action plans, sales spikes and new sales orders are communicated promptly to the broader team.
• Monitor, review and update system parameters in line with changes in demand.
• Regularly review slow moving and obsolete stock and coordinate stock reduction plans with Sales and Finance.
• Focus on replenishment models that optimise freight options such as full container loads and consolidated shipments.
• Prepare documentation and presentations for regular Sales and Operations (S&OP) reviews.

• Demonstrate alignment with Slingco values at all times.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to drive the team toward achieving strategic objectives.
• Strong sense of urgency and a proactive approach when communicating issues to stakeholders with effective task prioritisation.
• Pro…