Head Sales & Operational Planning

Job title: Head – Planning (Supply Chain)

Function: Supply Chain

The Role Reports to: Senior Director Supply Chain

The Head of Planning is responsible for driving an integrated, technology-enabled planning process across demand, supply, and materials for 19 owned breweries and 15* contract breweries. This role ensures forecast accuracy, optimal inventory, and production efficiency through advanced planning tools, analytics, and digital transformation initiatives

Key Accountabilities:

1. Technology & Digital Enablement

• Lead deployment and enhancement of advanced planning systems, APS tools, and AI/ML-based forecasting platforms.
• Build real-time visibility dashboards for inventory, supply, capacity utilization, and material risk.
• Drive automation and workflow digitization to improve planning cycle times and operational agility.
• Use analytics for scenario planning, predictive modelling, and risk sensing.

2. Demand Planning

• Govern the statistical forecasting process with AI/ML models and market intelligence inputs.
• Institutionalize forecast accuracy KPIs and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Integrate POS data, distributor trends, price changes, and promotional plans into forecasting logic.

3. Supply Planning

• Lead supply and production planning across all breweries using dynamic planning tools.
• Optimize brewery load balancing, production run strategies, and sequencing for cost and efficiency.
• Build rapid re-planning capabilities to manage demand shifts, production disruptions, and seasonal variability.
• Ensure digital collaboration with contract manufacturing partners for capacity updates, adherence tracking, and exception management.

4. Capacity Planning & TPM Integration 

• Partner with Brewery Operations and TPM leaders to align production plans with equipment availability, maintenance calendars, and line efficiency benchmarks.
• Integrate planned maintenance schedules (PM), autonomous maintenance windows, and asset care initiatives into the production planning cycle.
• Use OEE, MTBF, MTTR and other TPM metrics to refine capacity models and improve planning realism.
• Lead joint forums with Manufacturing to reconcile demand requirements with operational constraints, ensuring stable, reliable production plans.
• Drive digital tracking of capacity losses and maintenance-related variances for proactive planning.

5. Performance Management

• Define and track key planning KPIs such as: 
  • Forecast Accuracy
  • Inventory Turns & Coverage
  • Production Plan Adherence
  • Capacity Utilization (integrated with TPM metrics)
  • Material Availability OTIF
• Use Power BI/Tableau for real-time dashboards, performance insights, and decision-making support.
• Drive structured RCA processes alongside TPM teams to resolve recurring planning-performance gaps

6. Material Planning

• Oversee MRP processes and ensure timely availability of malt, hops, packaging material, and critical inputs.
• Implement inventory optimization algorithms to balance working capital and service levels.
• Build automated alerts for shortages, shelf-life risks, and supplier delays.
• Collaborate with Procurement for supplier capacity planning and long-term materials security.

7. Risk Management & Compliance

• Build digital risk dashboards to track supply continuity risks, material constraints, excise-related dependencies, and regulatory impacts.
• Align planning cycles with statutory and state excise requirements unique to the alcoholic beverage sector.
• Establish contingency planning and scenario readiness for high-risk events (seasonality, supply shocks, route-to-market disruptions).

Required Qualifications and Experience

• MBA/PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, or related field. 
• 12–15 years of Supply Chain Planning experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role in FMCG/Alcoholic Beverage/Process Manufacturing. 
• Expertise in advanced planning systems, SAP/APO/IBP, and digital planning tools. 
• Strong understanding of forecasting methodologies, capacity planning, and TPM interfaces. 
• Strong technology orientation with experience in digital transformation and predictive analytics.