Job Summary:
We are seeking a visionary and results-driven to lead, scale, and mature our Global Planning Practice in IEO (Intelligent Enterprise Operations) function. In this critical leadership role, you will own the end-to-end planning capability across enterprise clients and internal business units, encompassing Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Production Planning, S&OP / IBP (Integrated Business Planning), and inventory optimization. You will lead a high-performing team of SCM Managers and Planning Specialists across Direct, Indirect, and logistics verticals.
The ideal candidate blends tier-one management consulting rigor with practical operating experience, demonstrating a strong track record of designing next-generation planning operating models. You will spearhead the integration of advanced analytics and AI-first planning core workflows, driving forecast accuracy, working capital efficiency, and resilient supply chain orchestration across global multi-industry setups.
Job Description:
- Practice Leadership & Strategy: Establish the vision, service offerings, and multi-year capability roadmap for the Planning Practice; define standard governance models, KPIs, and operational playbooks across multi-industry client engagements.
- End-to-End Planning Governance: Architect and govern enterprise-wide planning frameworks, including statistical demand forecasting, supply constraint modeling, Master Production Scheduling (MPS), capacity planning, and multi-echelon inventory optimization (MEIO).
- Executive S&OP / IBP Orchestration: Institutionalize and facilitate cross-functional S&OP/IBP cycles aligning Commercial, Finance, Procurement, and Manufacturing leadership to build consensus operating plans and mitigate risk.
- Team Leadership & Talent Development: Directly lead, mentor, and scale a high-caliber team of planning managers and analysts; foster a high-performance culture grounded in problem-solving agility, commercial acumen, and continuous learning.
- AI & Digital Planning Enablement: Drive the adoption of advanced AI/ML capabilities in planning (predictive demand sensing, scenario-based simulation, automated replenishment triggers, and touchless exception handling) to transition operations from reactive planning to autonomous decisioning.
- Ecosystem & Warehousing Interfacing: Oversee the structural handoff between core planning engines and physical fulfillment networks, collaborating with warehousing, 3PL, and logistics leaders to balance stock norms, inventory turns, and service levels (OTIF).
- Client Engagement & Thought Leadership: Serve as a strategic C-suite advisor on supply chain transformation programs; lead executive discovery sessions, author whitepapers/playbooks, and support pre-sales proposals and client pitching for the practice.
Profile Description:
- Holistic Planning Mastery: Deep functional mastery across demand planning, supply allocation, inventory health (SLOB reduction, DOH optimization), and cross-functional S&OP/IBP frameworks across both direct manufacturing and retail/consumer environments.
- Leading Planning Platforms: Hands-on end-user expertise and preferably implementation exposure to market-leading Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) suites (e.g., o9 Solutions, Kinaxis RapidResponse, Blue Yonder / JDA, SAP IBP, Anaplan, or OMP).
- AI & Advanced Analytics Exposure: Strong understanding of how generative AI, machine learning forecasting algorithms, and digital twin simulations are applied to resolve supply chain volatility, lead-time variance, and demand shocks.
- Warehousing & Network Familiarity: Working knowledge of warehouse operations, distribution network design, hub-and-spoke models, and 3PL/CFA integration to ensure planning models reflect real-world capacity constraints (good to have).
- Consulting & Advisory Rigor: Proven ability to lead structured problem-solving, value-stream mapping, and operating model redesign for global enterprise accounts.
- Executive Influence & Communication: Outstanding executive presence with a demonstrated ability to steer alignment among CXO stakeholders, navigate matrixed organizational dynamics, and simplify complex supply chain challenges into actionable strategic initiatives.
Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (B.Tech / B.E.) combined with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from a premier institution.
- Experience: 15–18 years of progressive experience across supply chain planning, procurement transformation, and operations management within global MNCs or top-tier consulting firms.
- Consulting Background: Prior or current experience in a recognized management consulting firm (e.g., Big 4, boutique supply chain advisory, or global technology consulting practice) leading supply chain transformation engagements is required.
- Current Role: Must currently be leading an active team of planning professionals and managing complex, multi-region planning deliverables.
