Manager, Cocoa SC Design & Planning

Zurich, CH, 8005 Lodz, PL, 94-406

About the Role

As a core project team member within the Supply Chain & Inventory work stream, with the aim at reducing end-to-end lead time and inventory, you will contribute to the design, build, implementation, and stabilization of new end-to-end planning models and strategies for the Global Cocoa business unit. The role will support the synchronization of planning processes across sourcing, production, capacity planning, detailed scheduling, deployment, and inventory management, with the goal of reducing lead times while maintaining best-in-class customer service.

The role also includes supporting the integration of planning processes and data into digital tools, including OMP, and ensuring seamless data transfer, robust master data foundations, clear KPI governance, and effective adoption by operational teams.

The scope of the role spans from bean sourcing through semi-finished and finished cocoa production to supply for third-party customers and internal chocolate factories.

Key Responsibilities include

• Optimize the level of inventory across the cocoa supply chain in line with company operating working capital targets
• Enable synchronized end-to-end planning across sourcing, production, scheduling, deployment, and inventory
• Support the implementation of new planning strategies, policies and parameters with scalable planning processes, KPIs, and digital tools
• Ensure planning master data and data flows are fit for purpose to support decision-making and system execution
• Analyze Phase 0 analysis, complement As Is understanding (sourcing, inventory, capacity, scheduling, deployment), collect data and parameters, analysis and definition of quick wins and mid to long term project plan.
• Define planning strategies, planning rules, and differentiated run models based on ABC/XYZ analysis, including repetitive run models for A items and tailored approaches for B and C items
• Define inventory policies, DIO targets, and inventory trajectories by component and destination
• Rebalance trade-offs between inventory, service, flow stability, and capacity utilization
• Support the stabilization of African flows and the implementation of concepts such as the Autobahn and Gas pedal model.
• Contribute to the redesign of planning processes, including S&OP and bean planning, Supply strategy modelling AF vs HB 2.0 benefits (f.e Africa vs EU)
• Define and implement new KPIs, Dashboards or new policies for inventory and planning performance, including DIO, replenishment lead time, demand variability, safety stock, SLOB, healthy stock, and blocked stock
• Support data analysis, seamless data transfer, and master data readiness required to enable the new planning model
• Support PMO Office methodology enabling visibility, risk and opportunities, decision making
• Train and support operational teams in adopting the new planning model, tools, KPIs, and ways of working
• Support scenario analysis and decision-making across inventory, service, sourcing, and capacity trade-offs linking the project goals and the day-to-day operations through structured PMO Office to enable visibility and decision making
• Translate data and planning outputs into actionable recommendations for project and business stakeholders

About You

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, dispersed teams in a matrix organization, ideally within a demanding high-volume Manufacturing, Distribution or B2B organization, extensive experience of conducting business on a regional level
• Graduate/Post graduate degree in business administration, engineering, management or relevant field
• Experience in Supply planning strategy and execution governance operating models, leveraging scale, shared services and international flows
• Deep knowledge of the S&OP, supply planning (production planning and scheduling) and inventory management processes
• Experience in planning system set-up/scale-up
• Problem solving skills through root cause analysis and data driven continuous improvement
• A tenacious character who challenges the ‘status quo’ and can manage upwards as well as downwards, you will continuously strive for improvements in ways of working, processes and approaches to service strategies, best practice inventory management
• Proficient in English, any other language is an advantage

Job Segment: Supply Chain Manager, Supply Chain, Supply Planner, Supply, Engineer, Operations, Engineering