Principal Specialist Channel Demand Plan

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Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• Manage sales forecasts alignment across channels focused on demand planning and inventory management.


• Development and execution of initiatives to optimise sales forecasts, inventory management, and demand planning processes by partnering closely internal and external stakeholders i.e. (sales, logistics, marketing, go to-market, trade marketing, consumer product management, finance, portfolio management, and supply chain teams).


• Responsible for best-in-class demand planning and sales forecasting monthly model.


• Review of demand planning and forecasting priorities by identifying insights, areas of improvement/opportunities and trends together with seeking resolution and ensure follow through to completion.

Your responsibilities will include:

Supply and Demand Management:

• Manage and lead end to end Best in class demand planning management across retail channels ensuring that channels receive a high level of service with timeous and accurate execution.


• Responsible for demand planning, sales forecasts alignment across retail focused i.e., demand planning and inventory management in line with business strategy, SLA management, operational performance improvement.


• Manage supply and demand planning by focusing on understanding demand patterns, market trends, and internal production capabilities


• Optimise Inventory to ensure retail channels avoid overstocking or stockouts and manage any potential financial losses and customer dissatisfaction.


• Optimise inventory to reduce transportation and warehousing costs i.e., overproduction.


• Manage ongoing improvements on forecast accuracy for retail channels to make informed decisions relating to production, procurement, and distribution.


• Reduce forecast errors to improve ability to respond to changing market conditions.


• Align demand planning with actual market requirements to ensure customers receive their orders timeously leading to a positive customer experience and brand loyalty.


• Manage and monitor key output/performance indicators across retail channels in line with targets and assist to drive an efficient and effective forecasting model.


• Manage, lead, and drive all demand planning capabilities that drive from effective forecasting to efficient inventory and commercial management.


• Responsible for ensuring compliance with all demand planning principles.

Operational Excellence & Business Transformation:

• Analysing demand trends to support development of sales and marketing strategies, new product launches, and capacity planning.


• Provides critical insights to senior management for calculated decision-making.


• Monitor market changes and promptly adjust forecasts and production schedules.


• Maintaining and improving the customer demand administrative processes and reduce stock holding & obsolescence at store/region/channel level.


• Effective utilisation and improvement of local Vodacom and global Vodafone systems & manage SLA’s where applicable.


• Continuously improve the Vodacom demand planning and sales forecasts policies, processes, systems that impact the customer and channels.


• Formulate performance reporting and presentations for the management of initiatives, projects, activities that related to demand planning.


• Manage and govern minimum standards across channel/s relating to demand planning management.


• Ensure effective communication as necessary to the Regions, Trade, Suppliers and Retail Division through managed communication efforts.

Reporting Management:

• Provide executive management, other internal and external stakeholder s with reports, as well as interpret and analyse management information that relates to sales


• Forecasts, inventory management, and demand planning focused on performance, trends, learnings, insights, recommendations, and actions.


• Provide a range of reports to ensure that agreed SLA’s and performance are measured and monitored on an on-going basis.


• Provide commercial and cost/revenue reporting on sales and stock management.

People/Stakeholder Leadership:

• Foster collaboration between departments such as sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, and other areas across the full business


• Ensure internal/external stakeholder are aligned toward common business objectives.


• Building strong and productive business relations with suppliers, third parties and customers


• Managing a cross-functional team with relevant Business Units and other support structures to ensure delivery of strategic roadmap and initiatives.

Commercial Management:

• Manage model efficiencies and optimise services as and when/where required.


• Develop and implement plans to deliver on sales revenues growth together with various business units.


• Manage applicable budgets for operational excellence and business support.


• Manage commercials and SLA performance within portfolio requirements.


• Understand basic cost-to-implement projections relating to business improvements and projects and make decisions accordingly and accurately.


• Structures to ensure delivery of business roadmap and initiatives.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Matric essential and


• Relevant 3-year Degree in Business Management /Operations/Commerce essential and


• Minimum of 8 years relevant experience in:
  
  
  
  
  • Demand Planning for stock & sales management for retail or similar large entity model
  
  
  • Demand planning model development, reporting and dashboard formulation.
  
  
  • Experience of QlikSense or other globally recognised module will be an added advantage
  
  
  • Telecoms industry experience especially in consumer /retail business operations areas preferable
  
  
  
  

Knowledge:

• Demand planning, sales forecasting, or related roles


• Demand planning software and data analysis tools.


• Business model focused on demand planning management and sales forecasting.


• Solving and dissolving complex stock and stock planning challenges


• Business Change Management and Transformation management


• Service Level Agreement and Contract Level Agreements


• Exposure to digitally led solutions systems/reporting/dashboard and/or other digital interfacing platforms/capabilities/models - highly beneficial.

Skills:

• Analytical and data-driven decision-making skills


• Communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.


• Build effective relationships with various stakeholders internal and external.


• People Leadership skills


• Persuading and influencing


• Report and Presentation writing


• Critical thinking and resolution management skills

We make an impact by offering:

• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages


• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits


• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies

Closing date for Applications: 13 February 2026.  

The base location for this role is Vodacom, Midrand Campus.  

The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.
Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.