______

Customer Forecast Analyst

______

Company:

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with around 46,000 employees in approximately 370 production sites across 35 countries and with revenue of €8.6 billion in 2017. With our pro-active team we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations. This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills. Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers. We operate in four areas namely paper, packaging, recycling and forestry.

Position:

Based at our Plant in Lurgan, a full time, permanent opportunity has arisen in the Customer Service department for an ambitious Customer facing Customer Forecast Analyst. The primary focus is on aligning Customer requirements with operational capability achieving operational performance objectives whilst ensuring the highest levels of customer service. The role also requires deputising for the Customer Service Manager when required and ensuring the smooth running of the department to the highest standards. The position will be day shift from 9.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am-3.30pm Friday.

Scope:

Reporting to the Customer Services Manager, the Customer Forecast Analyst will:

  • Manage a broad base of key Customer accounts to ensure excellent Customer service
  • Fully understand Customers business models and how they can be married into our business model for superior Customer service
  • Liaise directly with key Customers to develop and collate forecasting requirements
  • In conjunction with the Customer Services Manager help drive process improvements through the organisation from a Customer service perspective taking all available opportunities to improve the Customer experience
  • Maximise the opportunities for Customer service improvement in a business focused manner
  • Help develop the Customer service culture and systems for the site

Responsibilities:

  • Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, evaluate forecast results
  • Present and assess feedback on the various forecasts from customers and the sales team
  • Interact with customers, sales, production to understand and analyse forecasts
  • Develop inventory strategies on existing items and new products
  • Co-ordination and communication of customer action plans with Planning/Production
  • A strong people manager, providing clear leadership, direction and team working skills
  • Contribute to the effective running of the plant, and devise and implement solutions to capacity issues
  • The ideal candidate will have good interpersonal skills that can contribute, lead and drive improvements in customer relationships
  • Management of key customer accounts
  • Regular Visits to customers to understand their demand/forecasts and working with other departments on feedback given
  • Working on business improvement opportunities/system changes to facilitate better customer relationships
  • Deputising for the Customer Services Manager
  • Flexibility on working hours combined with the ability to meet demanding timeframes
  • Any other relevant duties as required.

Person Specification: Customer Forecast Analyst

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / Educated to degree level or equivalent / Customer service or IT qualification
Experience & Knowledge / Proven successful experience in a similar role / Experience in a site with ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 systems
Highly proficient IT skills in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint / Experience within an ERP system
Abilities & Skills / Performance supervisory/managerial experience in a Customer facing role – ensuring clear accountability and objectives for the team / Commercial awareness with experience in costing systems
Customer and business focused, highly motivated, proactive, can do attitude, driven leader with strong people management skills / Strong eye for detail
Strong people and interpersonal skills that is able to communicate effectively and appropriately across all levels, build strong relationships and affect change / Project management experience
Experience in business improvement projects with the ability to collate and use information quickly to determine trends, make appropriate decisions and implement them / Lean manufacturing knowledge
Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to be flexible, prioritise workload, manage complexity and adapt to changing conditions whilst meeting strict deadlines / Experience in working to tight deadlines
Practical problem solving skills, including the ability to manage conflicting work demands, multitask and work under pressure in a dynamic and challenging environment / Team management experience
Ability to supervise and motivate a team of staff and implement relevant KPIs to meet challenging targets and deadlines coupled with flexible hours to achieve this / The ability to organise and chair effective interdepartmental meetings
Act and lead with human sensitivity, people person interacting effectively to achieve results with integrity / Ability to identify long term business needs and embody them into cohesive and risk assessed plans that meet strategic and operational needs
Excellent analytical skills with the ability to manage complexity / Proven track record of accepting responsibility and accountability for significant management decisions
A positive, independent thinker, resourceful, logical, systematic, strategic and demonstrates initiative / Presentation skills
The ability to work independently or as part
of a team
Proven experience of robust decision making and leadership which demonstrates ability to drive change and deliver results.
Customer focussed and credible when representing the organisation
Self-confident and willing to share information openly
Ability to communicate clearly & persuasively while working under pressure and to tight deadlines

We are an Equal Opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on grounds of religious belief or political opinion. We practice equality of opportunity in employment and select the best person for the job.

Application & Monitoring Forms are available from Maura Greene, 028 38 323611 or

Closing Date is Wednesday, April 4th 2018 @ 3pm