Manpower are currently seeking an interim Stock Availability Specialist to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.
The position is based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. This is a full-time temporary role to start ASAP and to run for 12 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive.
The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.
This role is to ensure the effective management and supply of all SKUs within a designated business group. This role works closely with the business group planning team, sales, and order fulfilment to ensure that forecasted quantities are supplied in alignment with the phased forecast. The Stock Availability Specialist plays a critical role in coordinating supply chain activities to optimize inventory levels, minimize stockouts, and maximize service levels for customers.
The Stock Availability Specialist proactively engages in order fulfilment activities, collaborating with the order fulfilment team to address demand changes and ensure timely deliveries. Additionally, this role identifies and implements process improvement opportunities to enhance the efficiency of stock management and overall supply chain performance. By ensuring product availability, the specialist supports business goals and contributes to an exceptional customer experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY DELIVERABLES
Operations & Systems
Stock Availability Specialists typically operate on a 0-14 day horizon.
S&OP
- The Stock Availability Specialists work closely with planners to understand inventory levels and stock locations for SKUs in their
- Active involvement in governance of AATP system. Responsible for working with CSP & Planning to determine business rules for their
- The SAS is responsible for communicating decisions on business rules to relevant stakeholders in the business, and for transacting these rules in the
- Communicate 0-14 day supply risks to relevant stakeholders in CD and supply
- Point of contact for third parties (such as Elida) to administer business constraints in Unilever’s ERP systems, and to communicate this to relevant supply chain stakeholders in Unilever as required by service level
- Upload reason codes for service losses into AATP
Order to Deliver
- Short-term decision maker on whether to override AATP business rules for live The SAS will use business insights and inventory / warehouse / demand data to make decisions on whether to release stock to an order or short a customer.
- Responsible for running the Back Office Process (BOP) runs three times per day to ensure AATP information is live and contemporary.
Systems that a role holder would be expected to use or interpret includes but is not limited to – SAP, , PowerBI, MS Office, AATP.
Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
- Expected to review service loss reason code allocation from planning and to hold them to account on accuracy of these allocations, such that accurate information is fed into continuous improvement
- Work with CD and Supply Chain colleagues to tackle repeat service problems for which they get
- Proactively communicate with CESs to ensure that AATP business rules are properly integrated with customer ordering behaviours, and to push for resolutions whereby this is not the
- Continuously monitor KPIs such as stock availability rate and order cycle time to identify areas for improvement.
Third Party Communications & Relations
- Liaise regularly with planning, sales, and order fulfilment teams to ensure alignment on stock availability and demand
- Maintain open lines of communication with planning and sales partners to ensure timely replenishment and mitigate
- Engage with the customer service team to address stock-related issues that affect customer orders and satisfaction.
- Provide regular updates to relevant stakeholders on inventory performance and improvement
Point of contact for third parties to ensure that their business supply decisions are understood and managed as per TSA, maintaining the right level of confidentiality as per SLA.
Line Management & Coaching
- Training & coaching for new SAS starters may be an expectation of this
- This role may be expected to coach / educate others on AATP
Minimum Requirements
- Strong internal and external stakeholder
- Excellent quantitative analytical
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to adapt style to influence
- Strong problem-solving skills and an ability to think
- The ability to stay calm & focused in fast-paced, high-pressure
- Ability to manage time effectively and to plan
- A proactive mindset, seeking to avoid problems before they
- Comfortable holding others to account and in having challenging
- Willing and able to travel to meet
- A customer-focused mindset, seeking to exceed their expectations where
Ideal Requirements
- Advanced skillset in Microsoft
- Experience working with retail
- Experience with SAP or other ERP
- Experience working in logistics, planning or commercial
- An understanding of basic financial / commercial measures and how supply chain roles can influence
- A solid grasp of supply chain