Supply Planning SME

Pet Nutrition (PN) is the most vibrant category in the FMCG sector. As we work to transform this exciting category, a new program, Shepherd, has been mobilized by the Mars PN leadership team. Shepherd is focused on the accelerated creation and implementation of a next generation ERP for Pet Nutrition. Much more than a simple “Lift and Shift,” this program will undertake a major process simplification and harmonization scope as we digitally transform our business.

Shepherd is focused primarily on four mega process areas: Finance, Source to Pay (procurement and vendor mgmt.), Plan to Fulfill (supply chain planning, manufacturing and distribution), and Lead to Cash (order processing and payment). This transformation requires thought leadership, quality decision making, deep technical know-how, and an ability to navigate complex business challenges while applying a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to each of these mega processes.

As part of Shepherd, a new role has been created to lead the representation of business requirements for the Plan to Fulfill during the ERP transformation: Global Supply Planning SME (Pet Nutrition). The Global Subject Matter Expert (SME) is an individual who owns an end-to-end process across functional silos, geography and business unit boundaries. It includes radical process simplification and cross-segment collaboration in standardization efforts in order to build agile and resilient supply chain in Mars. The Global SME is accountable for working directly with the systems integrator in designing the global process template for their respective process area, including the future needs of the business, system capabilities, and external best practices. They are responsible for the development of the business case, ensure unit buy-in and sign-off on business architecture and process design.

This role will focus on Supply Planning with the following functions in scope:

• Production Planning: process steps to plan production, communicate plan to scheduling, factories, warehouses, markets, review demand at risk projection based on planned productions or projected productions, conduct scenario planning to mitigate risks, conduct material availability check, etc. Managing master data, managing capacity and inventory projections.
• Production Scheduling: sequence productions based on data from manufacturing, taking into account available capacity, demand, change over time, line efficiencies, etc. Conduct material availability check. Communicating confirmed sequenced plan to central production planning.
• Supply chain inter-dependencies: Demand Planning, Manufacturing Execution, Quality, Warehousing and Logistics. Cross-functional collaboration and interdependencies, collaboration framework and information flows.

Global SME will cooperate with consultants that will drive the work with ERP transition as well as cross segment teams that will be responsible for transition in their segments across all geographies. Collaboration will also be necessary within Pet Nutrition different functional areas identified as transition scope. After transition design is completed, collaboration will be required with regional deployment teams. This role is the enabler providing critical support for change towards supply chain efficiency.

What are we looking for?

• Customer focused with demonstrated ability to form productive relationships with business leaders, DT personnel and project leaders.
• Proven track record of delivering results in the following areas: Business-led transformations, IT Program management, SAP template build and industrialised deployment.
• Deep understanding of the end-to-end Supply Planning process, challenges and value drives (prefereably in a CPG context).
• Thourough understand of interlinkeages and interdepencendes of Supply Planning with other business functions including Finance, Quality, Manufacturing, Logistics and others.
• Experience in working with multiple stakeholders and managing trade off decisions.
• Deep understanding of business drivers / processes and ability to relate segment priorities to associated technology.
• Ability to educate leadership & staff, working across multiple levels.
• Learning agility and desire to learn new processes, technology and business capabilities.
• Strong problem analysis, negotiating and influencing skills.
• Senior stakeholder communications experience.
• Proven track record to get things done in a matrixed organization – including the ability to influence without authority.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Assume global ownership for formulating strategy, designing processes, and overseeing the implementation across Supply Planning within PN.
• Analyze internal and external leading practices and benchmarks, developing a transformation roadmap based on agreed KPI performance for the processes.
• Take responsibility for defining the entire end-to-end business process and supporting technology for PN, collaborating closely with relevant stakeholders across the full Mars Inc. organization.
• Drive process standardization, bringing PN in line with wider Mars Inc., and recommending decisions where PN-specific customizations are permissible and overseeing market-deployment through indirect teams (which will be led by regional teams).
• Work closely with Royal Canin (RC) Supply Planning Global SME to agree on key elements of design and process standardization and harmonization to ensure consistency in processes across PN and RC driving synergies at a Petcare level.
• Work closely with the PMO team and provide input to the overall Program workstream status reporting, etc.
• Work closely with the Master data workstream and the RC to co-define the master data strategy, data model and data governance for data objects within Supply Planning scope.
• Partner with the DT team and Deployment teams to develop deployment roadmaps and manage the Global template for PN Supply Planning.
• Partner with Regional SMEs to align and provide “hands-on” inputs into the configuration of the ERP or other systems used in Supply Planning.
• Support regional deployment teams as needed.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

This role is a project-based transformation role and has a current expected end date of 3 years. As we move closer to the date, we will work with you to explore other opportunities for employment within the Mars family of companies. If a suitable alternative role is not available at that time, your employment will end.

#LI-Hybrid #TBDDT

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.