Role Purpose
Newly created and business-critical. Demand forecasting and supply chain planning are a new capability for Navi. This role is the sole dedicated planning resource for a new strategic supply initiative that will handle c.450,000 generic packs per month, with future expansion planned into branded and ULM (unlicensed medicines) lines.
The role owns end-to-end demand forecasting, PO management, inventory oversight and cross-functional planning coordination — working closely with Navi's Commercial, Wholesale, Warehouse, Finance and IT teams and with our third-party logistics partner. The successful appointee will define the operating model as they go, documenting processes and building the foundations for a permanent planning function.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Forecasting & Volume Planning
- Build and maintain monthly SKU-level demand forecasts, translating pharmacy run rates and dispensing patterns into structured forward supply plans
- Estimate volumes by product line, accounting for store conversion to bulk ordering, ramp-up trajectory, and seasonal dispensing patterns
- Identify and flag demand risks early — spikes, seasonal variation, prescribing changes — and propose mitigation actions
- Contribute demand inputs to the monthly S&OP process, aligned with Finance working capital planning
Purchase Order Management
- Raise and manage POs in SAP against confirmed run rates and third-party logistics partner delivery lead times; confirm quantities and delivery dates with the warehouse in advance
- Monitor open POs against delivery schedules, proactively chasing overdue orders and escalating supply risks to the programme team
- Manage the full PO-to-receipt cycle in SAP including product setup, inbound receipt, and stock reconciliation
Inventory & Stock Holding Management
- Confirm and maintain stock holding levels across the third-party logistics partner's warehouse — min/max thresholds, safety stock, reorder triggers, batch and expiry visibility
- Define and document the disruption notification process, ensuring clear escalation paths when stock falls below agreed thresholds
- Support contingency storage planning in coordination with the warehouse and supply chain team
Reporting & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Build and maintain operational reports: daily pick volumes, orders placed/fulfilled, delayed orders, not-order reports, and inventory versus plan
- Act as the primary planning interface between Retail Commercial, Wholesale, Warehouse, Finance, IT, and the third-party logistics partner
- Contribute to Demand Planning SOP documentation as the operating model transitions from temporary to permanent
Key Measures of Success
- Forecast accuracy against actual demand across the supply portfolio
- On-time PO placement and receipt against agreed delivery schedules
- Stock holding maintained within agreed min/max thresholds with early risk escalation
- Operational reporting delivered on time and used by the wider team for decisions
- Demand Planning SOP documented and embedded, leaving the function stronger than it was found
Person Specification
Essential
- 3-5 years of demand planning or supply chain planning experience — pharmaceutical, FMCG, or equivalent regulated environment strongly preferred
- Proven hands-on experience of SKU-level forecasting, PO management, and inventory control in a volume-intensive operation
- Strong cross-functional communication skills — confident working with Commercial, Finance, Warehouse, IT, and third-party logistics partners
- Proactive and resilient — able to create structure in a new function being built from the ground up
- Third-level qualification in Supply Chain, Business, Pharmacy, Science, or related discipline
Skills and Competencies
- SAP experience highly desirable (Oracle, JDE, or MS Dynamics considered)
- Advanced Excel for demand modelling and variance analysis
- Analytical mindset with the discipline to work with structured data and produce reliable outputs
- Bias to documentation — leaves processes and knowledge in a stronger state than they were found
- AI-first mindset and demonstrable use of AI tools in daily work, with the ability to identify and act on opportunities to augment forecasting, reporting, and process documentation with AI
- Personally aligned with the Navi Group Energised People framework and our six key employee attributes — operating at the Being Energised (Senior IC) level across all six
Desirable
- APICS / IIPMM qualification
- Experience in a regulated supply chain with awareness of batch tracking, expiry management, and GDP compliance
- Direct experience in pharmaceutical supply chain — generics, cold chain, FMD serialisation, and HPRA GDP awareness
- Familiarity with the Irish pharmacy sector and the operating model of a pharmacy buying group or wholesaler
Navi Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Pay: €45,000.00-€55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- DUBLIN 22, County Dublin: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you available to start before end of July and commit to a 6 month contract?
Experience:
- Demand planning/stock forecasting: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
Work Location: In person
