Demand Planning Team Lead

• Location: Hyderabad Hub

About the job

Our Hubs are a crucial part of how we innovate, improving performance across every Sanofi department and providing a springboard for the amazing work we do. Build a career and you can be part of transforming our business while helping to change millions of lives. Ready? As the Demand Planning Team Lead is responsible for leading a regional demand planning team to ensure alignment with the organization’s vision and goals. This role is critical in driving demand planning processes, overseeing daily operations, mentoring team members, and acting as a liaison between the demand planning function, global hub leadership, and key stakeholders. The Team Lead will also ensure compliance with both internal and external regulatory frameworks while fostering continuous process improvements. 

Main responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management: 

• Provide direction, oversee daily operations, and ensure alignment of demand planning activities with company objectives. 

• Lead, mentor, and coach the demand planning team to ensure professional growth and high performance. 

• Facilitate team performance evaluations and encourage continuous improvement and team collaboration. 

Process Improvement & Performance Management: 

• Drive improvements in demand planning processes and methodologies, leveraging advanced planning tools and ERP systems (SAP and Kinaxis preferred). 

• Ensure accurate use of master data and proper configuration of demand planning parameters in planning systems. 

• Conduct performance reviews and oversee root cause analysis for significant demand plan changes and forecast deviations.  

• Implement corrective action plans to prevent recurrence of identified issues. 

• Oversee team performance based on SLAs/KPIs to ensure efficient and effective operations. 

• Ensure alignment with internal and external regulatory frameworks. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting: 

• Act as the communication bridge between the demand planning team, global hub leadership, and key stakeholders. 

• Partner with stakeholders to integrate local market knowledge and operational requirements into planning processes. 

• Prepare and present demand planning reports for senior management  

About you 

Skills/Expertise/Experience 

•  Advanced degree (e.g., Master's or PhD) in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field. 

• Excellent English communication and writing skills 

Preferred Skills/Expertise/Experience 

• Prior experience in demand planning roles with demonstrated team leadership capabilities, preferably with knowledge of pharmaceutical primary and secondary manufacturing processes. 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the supply chain/manufacturing industry, preferably with exposure to pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. 

• Advanced proficiency in demand planning tools and ERP systems (SAP and Kinaxis preferred). 

• Comprehensive understanding of internal and external regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance in all demand planning activities. 

• Ability to provide direction, oversee daily operations, and ensure alignment of demand planning activities with company goals, driving process and methodology improvements. 

• Strong skills in mentoring, coaching, and team development to facilitate team performance evaluations and professional growth. 

• Effective liaison capabilities to act as the communication bridge between the demand planning team, global hub leadership, and key stakeholders.