JOB PURPOSE:
The Demand and Freight Forwarding Officer is responsible for placing the purchasing orders of HOLDAL and tracking and following-up on import shipments, as well as preparing the needed documents for clearing. He/She is also responsible for maintaining a healthy stock level across all the products.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Demand Planning:
- Provide forecasting/analytical support based on historical sales, market trends and sales input and consistently challenge and coordinate with commercial teams to improve the forecast model.
- Maintain and ensure the accuracy of master data and ordering parameters in order to place accurate orders.
- Handle the purchase orders process and ensure that order parameters are aligned with the predefined ones to place orders on time and as per the business need.
- Ensure that negotiated prices and ordering terms are in line with business needs and suppliers’ agreements in order to communicate and solve discrepancies with the concerned stakeholders.
- Identify, research, analyze and resolve problems relating to purchasing issues.
- Liaise with suppliers for order placement in order to ensure their alignment with agreements and inventory targets.
Inventory Optimization:
- Maintain an adequate in-stock position by reducing inventories and stock shortages.
- Follow-up on in-transits with commercial teams to ensure getting goods as expected.
Demand Planning and Supply Reports:
- Track and evaluate forecast accuracy, product availability and supplier service level in order to contribute in assessing the effectiveness of the demand/supply planning and share these reports with the commercial team monthly.
- Prepare ABC plan analysis.
- Assess risk on supply and demand variability and raise alerts when needed.
Shipping Planning:
- Control the freight rates, and tenders to get the best prices in the market.
- Choose the best mode of dispatch, sea, air or land, based on the volume, gross weight, and value of the shipment in order to minimize costs.
- Book and track the shipment movement from suppliers’ warehouses up to final delivery to HOLDAL by coordinating with the supplier or through certain tracking websites with HOLDAL’s agent in order to deliver the cargo to HOLDAL’s warehouses.
- Follow-up on shipments’ documents with suppliers and forwarders to avoid late dispatch and reception of HOLDAL orders.
- Follow-up with commercial teams on orders and shipments to ensure a smooth process and routing and with warehousing on the arrival of each shipment.
- Prepare reports and studies for assessing the accuracy of the current situation.
Clearing Operation:
- Prepare the shipping documents in order to send them to the Clearing Agent.
- Follow-up on the clearing of all HOLDAL group shipments at Beirut port/airport and the delivery to HOLDAL’s warehouses.
- Control all Forwarders’ and Clearing Agents’ invoices in order to ensure they match the offers.
- Collect claims from the insurer for any loss that occurred during the transportation.
- Ensure all HOLDAL shipments from abroad to our warehouses in order to guarantee coverage in case of any damage during transportation.
- Prepare customs documents and formalities in coordination with the Clearing Agents in due time in order to clear shipments on time and avoid demurrages and port storage fees.
- Fill and update the comparative rates file for better visibility and cost optimization for all HOLDAL shipments.
- Fill and update the Freight forwarding file daily for better tracking and visibility for all HOLDAL import.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain or any related field. A Master’s Degree is a plus.
- CSCP accreditation or similar is a plus.
- 1-3 years of experience in demand planning or purchasing. Experience in a distribution company is a plus.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and other factors related to the movement of freight.
- Fluent in Arabic and English. French is a plus.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Great organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate records.
- Great analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Great communication skills.
- Great time management skills.
