Title: Senior Regional Distribution Planner
Purpose
Lead strategic and operational planning for returnable packaging across the region to support component suppliers and ensure efficient supply chain continuity. This includes overseeing regional distribution planning, optimizing packaging availability, aligning with cost and sustainability goals, and strengthening stakeholder engagement across functions and geographies. The role plays a key part in driving process innovation, enhancing planning systems, mentoring the planning team, and ensuring customs and compliance governance for inbound and outbound shipments.
Focus on Strategic Alignment, Advanced Stakeholder Engagement, Data-Driven Decision-Making, and Operational Excellence.
Responsibilities
•Manage the full cycle of import and export operations for returnable packaging material, ensuring compliance with trade regulations
•Own the end-to-end availability strategy of returnable packaging in line with long-term business objectives
•Own & be responsible for overall packaging operations
•Lead packaging order distribution with strong focus on cost efficiency, service level performance, and environmental footprint
•Develop forecasting and planning models to anticipate packaging needs based on dynamic demand patterns
•Lead governance of packaging inventory levels across regional terminals
•Supervise and enhance transport planning, ensuring optimal routing and consolidation strategies
•Monitor and drive shipment KPIs with a proactive problem-solving approach
•Escalate and resolve supply disruptions, ensuring high service delivery
•Govern packaging planning compliance, drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes
•Prioritize terminal activities and bundling based on operational urgency and efficiency
•Lead engagement with component suppliers to align on inventory norms, overstock resolution, and accountability
•Define inventory frequency frameworks across terminals and suppliers
•Champion cost-avoidance strategies and lead initiatives to improve supply chain resiliency
•Oversee terminal performance and lead Daily / Weekly / Monthly/ Quarterly business reviews with stakeholders
•Act as the regional operational focal point to drive harmonization of planning activities
•Drive supplier performance improvements through collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) practices
•Ensure contractual alignment of packaging agreements with all stakeholders
•Engage in cross-functional improvement projects and digitalization initiatives
•Govern system usage and develop KPIs for performance improvement
•Review, validate and authorize service provider invoices, maintaining full audit trail compliance
•Oversee the customs clearance process for import packaging and ensure trade compliance
•Use data insights to solve complex supply and demand challenges, shaping mid- to long-term packaging strategies
•Provide mentorship and guidance to junior planners and cross-functional teams
Authorities
•Plan & decide optimization of Transports.
•Manage import / export of Returnable packaging fulfilling compliant procedure.
•Lead Packaging Terminal administration with escalation and governance authority
Key interfaces
Internal
−UD Plant Logistics - Material controller, SRM, LMS, Packaging Engineering
−Customs Compliance & Trade Team
−UD Production Logistics Packaging Operations Team
−UD Production Logistics Transport Material Team
−UD Production Logistics Purchasing
−UD Production Logistics Transport Development and optimization
−Digital Solutions & IT
−Group Companies, KD Markets / Overseas UD Plants
−Shared Services
External
−Customers
−Logistics service providers
−Material Suppliers
−Packaging Suppliers
−Customs Authorities
Key performance indicators
−KPIs management
−Terminal performance
−Risk management
−LSPs performance
Competence
•Bachelor’s degree or higher in Logistics & supply chain Management/ Transport Management / Demand Planning / Data Engineering or any related fields
•Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in supply chain, logistics, or packaging operations
•Proven leadership in managing cross-regional logistics and supplier performance
•Ability to analyse large volume of data and perform tasks for day-to-day work
•Proficient in Power BI, Data Analytics systems, Building digital board
•Critical Thinking
•Customer-centric mindset
•Agility to promote Digitalization into operation
•Excellent Presentation and reporting skill
•Gemba oriented actions
•Good interpersonal and communication skills
•Proactive mindset to analyse problem / requirements
•Proficient in SAP / ORACLE / TMS system
•Professional team player with networking abilities both internally and externally
•Good knowledge of customs compliance
•Strong data analysis skills.
•Build dashboards as needed.