Demand Planning COE

Purpose of the job

Apollo Tyres Ltd is a leading global tyre manufacturer with a diverse product portfolio serving the automotive industry across multiple geographies. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, we are committed to delivering high-quality products to our customers.

The Demand Planning Center of Excellence (COE) Lead will play a pivotal role in driving best-in-class demand planning practices across Apollo Tyres' global operations. This role is responsible for building and sustaining demand planning capabilities, providing governance, and ensuring the adoption of standardized processes and tools. The incumbent will collaborate cross-functionally with regional demand planning teams, sales, marketing, finance, and supply chain functions to ensure accurate demand forecasting and inventory optimization.

Major Responsibilities

List the expected end results that must be achieved in order to fulfil the job purpose and the activities that help in achieving these results, with % of Annual time spent, or expected to be spent, with a total of 100%

The format should be as follows: (1) VERB – what is done; (2) OBJECT – to what/whom; (3) APPROACH – how is it done (activities/tasks) and (4) RESULT – with what outcome

Develop and implement a comprehensive Demand Planning COE strategy aligned with global supply chain objectives.

Lead the design, deployment, and continuous improvement of demand planning processes, systems, and tools

Provide subject matter expertise and training to regional teams on demand planning methodologies, tools, and best practices

This role will require to navigate the complex cross-functional environment:

• Influence across the Region/Geographies/Channels cross-functional landscape
• Collaborate with a diverse community of process, data, product and IT partners to achieve a common goal
• Connect into the Global Planning Digitalization role and with other geographies/functions, especially India, EU, US Integrated planning leads

• Partner with other transformation initiative leaders to ensure process and technology integration

• Serve as a critical leader to proactively identify and address integration challenges between process and product that impact the value and efficacy of the Demand Planning Solution

Integrate the IBP business requirements (process design) with technological solutions/capabilities across Global/Regions

Facilitate collaboration between sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance to ensure demand forecasts are aligned with business objectives

Lead scenario planning, demand sensing, and predictive analytics initiatives to enhance forecast accuracy.

• Act as the custodian for advanced planning solutions and ensure successful adoption of digital and AI-based demand planning tools
• Provide leadership and mentorship to demand planners across regions, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration
• Manage cross-functional projects related to demand planning improvements, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder alignment
• O9/Blue Yonder understanding will be a plus

Internal & External Relationships

INTERNAL:
Functional Heads and Managers, Supply and Demand Planning team, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Manufacturing IT Teams, Logistic teams, Affiliate business (Global, EU, Local), Cross departmental project stakeholders

EXTERNAL:
Project implementation vendors, OE Partner (O9 & S4 HANA)

Skills & Knowledge

• 7+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain management, or related roles within a global manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of demand planning processes, statistical modeling, and forecasting techniques.
• Experience with demand planning tools (e.g., SAP IBP, Kinaxis, o9 Solutions, or similar) and data visualization tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills
• Proven track record of driving business performance by implementing advanced technology and analytics
• Excellent collaboration and negotiation skills
• Ability to influence especially in a highly matrixed organization without direct authority, taking ownership and driving results
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build and sustain a vast range of working relationships across multiple functions, cultures, and ability to flex styles for effective influence.
• Strategic acumen to develop approaches which address short, medium- and long-term business objectives

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's Degree/MBA preferred from a reputed institute. Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Technology

Major Challenges

1. Stakeholder management, influencing and delivering consensus on complicated process decisions

2. Revamp legacy processes

3. Inculcate agile ecosystem. Change management and challenging status quo

4. Driving tech inclusion in current WOW