About this Position The key purpose of the role is to act as a local demand planner for Industrial South Africa who works closely together with local marketing and sales functions to ensure demand planning processes are well established and consolidated in the country.

The role-holder would be able to independently handle interactions with several cross-functional stakeholders and deliver a clear and accurate Business Plan.

What You´ll Do

• Forecasting & S&OP Process:
• Owns and ensures high-quality demand plans by integrating market insights from Sales and Marketing
• Led the monthly S&OP cycle (Demand, Supply, Executive), driving cross-functional alignment and timely decision-making
• Actively participated in S&OE meetings to ensure short-term execution alignment
• Develops, enriches, and finalizes mid and long-term demand forecasts using statistical baselines and market intelligence
• Identifies future events, promotions, product launches, and market changes impacting demand
• Continuously improves forecast accuracy through analysis and root-cause reviews
• Establishes clear demand communication processes across local & regional stakeholders
• Actively challenges commercial assumptions to balance growth ambition with supply and inventory realities
• Coaches and upskills local sales teams on demand planning and forecasting discipline.
• Collaborates with Supply Planning to optimize inventory, production planning, inter-market supply, and third-party sourcing
• Manages and maintains product lifecycle data (new products, replacements, phase-outs)
• Drives inventory performance, including inventory days on hand and slow-mover reduction
• Owned and drove slow-mover and scrap reduction initiatives through structured monthly review meetings
• Closely collaborate with sales team to educate customers on the forecasting process to improve demand reliability
• Led cross-functional task forces and crisis meetings to resolve supply and demand disruptions and ensure business continuity
• Escalates demand–supply gaps with clear scenarios and recommendations for management decisions
• Monitors and reports key KPIs (forecast accuracy, Bias, portfolio optimization, inventory levels, premium freight, OSMI, Scrap)
• Aligns with Finance, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, Production, and regional teams to ensure S&OP effectiveness
• Analyses demand and supply trends to propose improvements in service, cost, and inventory performance
• Analyse specific country challenges (large distance, long lead time, air freight profile, etc.) and create contingency scenarios and right stock management
  
  

What makes you a good fit

• Exceptional S&OP knowledge
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Minimum matric qualification
  
  

Some perks of joining Henkel

• Flexible work scheme with flexible hours, hybrid work model, and work from anywhere policy for up to 30 days per year
• Diverse national and international growth opportunities
• Global wellbeing standards with health and preventive care programs
• Gender-neutral parental leave for a minimum of 8 weeks
• Employee Share Plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares
• Annual 1 month bonus
• 66.67% company contribution to Medical Aid
• Subsidised canteen
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programmes
  
  

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Become part of the team and bring your uniqueness to us! We look for a diverse team of individuals who possess different backgrounds, experiences, personalities and mindsets.