Planning Manager

at  AlFuttaim

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

REQUIRED SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Knowledge of predictive forecasting models and automation methodologies for sales planning
• Performance reporting and visualisation (including underlying data integrity)
• Excellent analytical skills, with strong attention to detail to identify key trends
• Focus on driving commercial results through the management of intelligent and measurable KPIs

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

We are seeking a detail orientated Planning Manager to execute a robust, data led approach to forecasting, planning and profitability. You will form part of a central function with oversight across all of our Al Futtaim Automotive brands and your efforts will ensure consistency and accuracy in our sales planning. You will always maintain a focus on our overall profitability, ensuring the right level of supportive interrogation of our brand, model and mix level planning, whilst in parallel laying down the foundations and structure for better processes and governance.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Develop and maintain accurate sales forecasts based on historical data, market trends, and industry insights
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Product teams to understand demand drivers and incorporate market intelligence into forecasting models
• Work closely with senior management to develop sales strategies aligned with business objectives and market dynamics
• Monitor sales performance against forecasts and targets, identifying deviations and implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Operations teams to align forecasting efforts with production planning, inventory management, and financial planning processes
• Conduct thorough market analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive threats, and growth opportunities
• Continuously evaluate and enhance sales planning and forecasting processes, leveraging automation, data analytics, and best practices
• Prepare and present sales forecasts, performance reports, and insights to senior management and key stakeholders
• Support special projects and initiatives related to sales planning, forecasting, and business development, as assigned
• Implement the Automotive Division’s monthly sales, production and stock planning to look for opportunities to improve sales and mix: optimising revenue opportunities and mitigating any risks
• Support and contribute to a shift towards more predictive, data led planning and forecasting, in turn driving more profitable decisions and better stock ordering/handling
• Deliver a central intelligence suite for all Al Futtaim Automotive brands to drive consistency and rigor to sales planning and forecasting across Al Futtaim owned brands and competitor brands

WHAT EQUIPS YOU FOR THE ROLE:

• A business or technical university degree is preferred.
• Minimum 3 years experience leading an Automotive Sales Planning role or similar role
• Expert knowledge and experience in volume planning
• Experience and expertise in the Automotive field is preferred with knowledge of complete automotive business model and value chain
• Commercial acumen, clear strategic thinking and ability to create buy-in and influence at a senior level