Mgr, Planning COE Analytics (Sofia office)

Job Purpose

The COE Advanced Demand Planning Manager is responsible for designing, deploying, and continuously improving advanced demand planning capabilities that drive forecast accuracy and process simplification and efficiency.

This role combines:

• SAP IBP system predictive and machine learning–enabled functionalities expertise
• Advanced analytics and predictive modeling understanding
• Functional supply chain expertise
• Change enablement and business adoption

The expert leverages SAP IBP predictive and machine learning–enabled functionalities to enhance demand planning outcomes, reduce manual interventions, and increase trust in automated demand signals across the organization.

Main Responsibilities

• Design and run advanced demand forecasts processes in SAP IBP using statistical, causal, and predictive methods.
• Strong statistical knowledge
• Understanding of forecast decomposition (trend, seasonality, noise)
• Model selection and parameter optimization in IBP
• Optimise SAP IBP predictive and machine learning capabilities (e.g. demand sensing, ML forecasting) to improve forecast accuracy
• Applie ML concepts (features, overfitting, validation)
• Ability to bridge data science outputs with business usage
• Governance of ML models in production environments
• Interpret model outputs and ensure business explainability and proactively propose enhancements and value cases.
• Support in the creation of analytical reports in Power BI and BW
• Partner with IT on CPI-DS, SDI, or other integration tools
• Develop demand segmentation strategies to apply the right forecasting approach to different products, markets, and lifecycle stages.
• Monitor forecast performance and continuously improve accuracy, bias, and stability through model tuning and analytics.
• Drive adoption and change enablement, training users and building trust in automated and predictive demand planning solutions.

Key Stakeholders

• Country/region Demand Planning Teams
• IT/Off shore Support Teams
• Data and Analytics

Experience & Qualifications required :

Must-haves:

• Proven end to end demand planning experience (+3 years) , with strong practical knowledge of IBP forecast models, key figures, planning views, and time profiles.
• Advanced forecasting and statistical modeling experience (+3 years), with a track record of improving forecast accuracy and reducing bias.
• Direct experience using SAP IBP predictive and ML enabled capabilities (+3 years), such as predictive forecasting and demand sensing. HIGHLY VALUED SAP IBP CONSULTANT EXPERIENCE.
• Direct experience developing Power BI reports and manage BW, such as predictive forecasting and demand sensing.
• Experience in managing large datasets
• Experience with demand segmentation and scenario planning, applying different forecast strategies by product, market, or lifecycle stage.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and change enablement experience, including training users and building trust in advanced and automated planning solutions.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience working within a central team supporting independent, regionally driven business units
• Experience in the food and beverage sector

Success Indicators / KPIs:

• Forecast Accuracy ( different lags)
• Machine Larning Adoption

Team & Culture :

Our Centre of Excellence fosters a collaborative, data driven, and highly supportive culture. We value self driven individuals who are comfortable working independently in a dynamic environment. Success in this role relies on adaptability, strong communication, and effective cross functional collaboration within a complex, multinational setting.

Functional Technical Skills Required

• SAP IBP predictive and ML enabled capabilities expert knowledge
• Advanced Power BI and BW knowledge
• Good communication skills, team engagement

Core Skills Preferred

• Change management
• Continuous improvement

Travel Required

Yes – 20%

Language capability

• English
• Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish is valued