Job Purpose The Upstream Planning Leader is responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted flow of materials from suppliers to the manufacturing site by establishing robust supply planning processes, managing supplier performance, optimizing inventory levels, and driving end-to-end upstream supply chain improvements. The role acts as the key interface between suppliers, procurement, production planning, logistics, and inventory management teams to secure material availability while optimizing working capital and supply chain costs.

The position focuses on supplier collaboration, forecast management, replenishment parameter governance, stock optimization, and continuous improvement projects to enhance supply chain responsiveness, reliability, and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supplier Planning & Forecast Management

- Develop, maintain, and communicate rolling forecasts to suppliers.
- Release supplier forecasts based on production plans and demand requirements.
- Monitor supplier forecast adherence and consumption trends.
- Conduct regular forecast reviews with suppliers.
- Identify forecast deviations and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure supplier capacity aligns with future manufacturing requirements.
- Collaborate with procurement and sourcing teams to mitigate supply risks.

Key Deliverables

- Forecast Accuracy Improvement
- Supplier Capacity Readiness
- Material Availability Assurance
- Reduction in Supply Disruptions

2. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

- Manage operational relationships with suppliers regarding supply planning activities.
- Monitor supplier delivery performance and material availability.
- Lead supplier performance reviews and improvement plans.
- Analyze supplier scorecards and identify root causes for service failures.
- Escalate supply risks and coordinate recovery plans.
- Support supplier development initiatives.

Measure Supplier Performance on:

- On-Time Delivery (OTD)
- Supplier Service Level
- Lead Time Compliance
- Delivery Reliability
- Expedite Frequency
- Inventory Accuracy

3. Inventory & Stock Optimization

- Define and maintain optimal inventory policies.
- Balance inventory investment against service level requirements.
- Monitor inventory health and stock coverage.
- Reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
- Establish safety stock strategies based on demand variability and supply risk.
- Drive inventory optimization initiatives across raw materials, packaging, and components.

Key Inventory Responsibilities

- Safety Stock Management
- Inventory Segmentation
- Working Capital Optimization
- Buffer Stock Reviews
- Slow-Moving Inventory Reduction

4. Supply Parameter Management Ensure data quality, consistency, and governance of supply planning parameters.

Manage and Validate:

- Replenishment Lead Time
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
- Order Multiples
- Delivery Frequency
- Transportation Parameters
- Safety Stock Levels
- Reorder Points




- Stocking Policies
- Supplier Calendars
- Capacity Constraints

Responsibilities

- Maintain ERP/MRP master data accuracy.
- Conduct periodic parameter reviews.
- Support digital planning initiatives.
- Improve planning system effectiveness.

5. Upstream Supply Risk Management

- Identify material shortages and supply risks proactively.
- Monitor supplier constraints, force majeure situations, and logistics disruptions.
- Establish mitigation and contingency plans.
- Coordinate with purchasing, logistics, and manufacturing teams during crises.
- Lead recovery action plans for critical components.

Key Focus Areas

- Supply Continuity
- Business Continuity Planning
- Risk Mitigation
- Supplier Recovery Plans
- Critical Material Monitoring

6. Logistics & Supplier Delivery Management

- Define and manage logistics terms and conditions with suppliers.
- Optimize inbound transportation flows.
- Support implementation of logistics agreements.
- Improve transportation efficiency and delivery reliability.
- Coordinate with warehouse and logistics partners.

Manage

- Incoterms Compliance
- Delivery Frequency Optimization
- Transportation Mode Selection
- Shipment Consolidation
- Supplier Logistics Performance

7. Production Support & Material Availability

- Ensure material availability to support production schedules.
- Participate in S&OP; and supply review meetings.
- Resolve supply shortages affecting production.
- Coordinate priority allocations during constrained supply situations.
- Support plant operational excellence initiatives.

Key Outcomes

- Zero Production Stoppages
- Service Level Achievement
- Material Availability Improvement

8. Continuous Improvement & Project Leadership Lead and execute supply chain improvement projects focused on upstream flow and stock optimization.

Typical Projects

- Inventory Reduction Programs
- Supplier Lead Time Reduction
- Replenishment Model Optimization
- Warehouse Capacity Optimization
- Supply Chain Digitalization
- Supplier Collaboration Platforms
- Lean Supply Chain Initiatives
- Working Capital Improvement Programs

Methodologies

- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma
- Kaizen
- Value Stream Mapping
- DMAIC
- Continuous Improvement Frameworks

9. Data Analytics & Reporting

- Analyze supply chain performance and inventory trends.
- Develop dashboards and KPIs for management reviews.
- Generate regular reports on supplier performance and inventory health.
- Utilize planning tools to support decision-making.
- Identify performance gaps and propose action plans.

Reporting Metrics





- Supplier OTD %
- Forecast Accuracy %
- Inventory Turns
- Days of Inventory On Hand (DOH)
- Service Level %
- Stock-Out Incidents
- Supplier Lead Time Variance
- Inventory Value
- Working Capital Reduction

10. Supplier Development & Relationship Management

- Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard current suppliers through structured assessment processes.
- Conduct supplier capability and capacity assessments.
- Create supplier development roadmaps and improvement plans.
- Develop strategic partnerships with critical suppliers to support business growth.
- Work closely with supplier quality teams to resolve quality issues and drive corrective actions.
- Improve supplier performance through continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.

- Lead commercial negotiations involving

- Price agreements

- Payment terms

- Contract renewals

- Capacity reservations
- Long-term sourcing agreements

11.Supply Chain Risk Management

- Develop supplier risk assessment and mitigation plans.
- Identify supply constraints and proactively manage potential disruptions.
- Assess supplier financial stability and operational risks.
- Implement dual sourcing and business continuity plans where appropriate.
- Manage inventory risks and support working capital optimization initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPI

Target Area

Supplier On-Time Delivery

> 95%

Material Availability

> 98%

Inventory Turns

Continuous Improvement

Forecast Accuracy

> 85%

Inventory Reduction

Annual Target

Production Shortages

Zero Critical Shortages

Safety Stock Optimization

Working Capital Improvement

Lead Time Adherence

Supplier Compliance

Supplier Service Level

Continuous Improvement

Qualifications

Education

- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field.
- Master's Degree (MBA/Supply Chain Management) preferred.

Experience

- 8-10 years of experience in Supply Chain Planning, Material Planning, Procurement, Logistics, or Manufacturing Operations.
- Experience in supplier management and inventory optimization.
- Exposure to manufacturing environments with complex supply chains.
- Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects.

Technical Skills

- Supply Planning
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- ERP Systems (SAP/APO/S4HANA, Oracle, Kinaxis, OMP, etc.)
- Inventory Management
- Forecasting Techniques
- Supplier Collaboration Management
- Network Planning
- Logistics Management
- Advanced Excel & Power BI
- Data Analytics
- Supply Chain Risk Management

Behavioral Competencies

- Strategic Thinking
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Stakeholder Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Project Management
- Negotiation Skills
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
- Results Orientation
- Leadership & Influencing Skills

Effective Communication

📌 Upstream Planning Leader (Bengaluru)
🏢 Search Advisers Services ( GUJ
📍 Bengaluru