About the position
an international food and beverage and fresh produce company specializing in the global citrus trade is seeking an analytical, data-driven Demand Planner to serve as the critical bridge between production, supply, demand, and commercial operations.
Responsibilities:
- Analyze production forecasts and track daily actuals (volumes, varieties, size/count splits, and grade distributions).
- Identify and report variances between forecasted and actual production.
- Analyze commercial customer demand, specs, and requirements by variety, grade, and count.
- Identify stock risks, shortages, and excesses.
- Recommend reallocation or alternative customer targets for excess or slow-moving stock.
- Advise the commercial team on available-to-sell inventory, stock excesses, and potential substitutions.
- Recommend optimal product allocations based on commercial strategy to maximize return and prioritize key accounts.
- Prevent overselling, underutilization, or misallocation of fruit.
- Own and maintain company pack plans; translate customer demand into actionable packing schedules.
- Prepare demand analyses and present weekly pack plans to commercial and production teams.
- Track pack plan execution, identify deviations early, and analyze budget vs. actual production variances.
- Maintain direct, daily communication with packhouse managers and production teams regarding packing schedules, grade/count splits, quality metrics, and unexpected delays.
Minimum Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Industrial Engineering preferred).
- Experience Level: Early-career professional (approx. mid-20s to early-30s).
- Excel: Expert/advanced MS Excel capabilities for daily data modeling and analysis.
- Problem-Solving: Highly analytical, quick learner, and adaptable under pressure.
- Languages: Business-fluent English (written and spoken) and functional Afrikaans comprehension (listening/reading; spoken Afrikaans not required).
- Transport: Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable personal transport.
- Desirable / Advantageous Skills
- Software Development / Coding: Ability to code or build systems to help implement and automate Twente's custom planning and forecasting tools.
Benefits:
Competitive salary based on experience (salary can potentially be more based on experience/skills)
IF you meet the above requirements and want to make a career-changing move, apply today by emailing your CV to [Email Address Removed].com
Desired Skills:
- Demand Planner
- Demand Planner
- Demand Planner
