Demand Planner - Citrus / Agriculture

Our client is seeking an experienced Demand Planner - Citrus / Agriculture to join their Port Elizabeth team in early 2027 Receive and analyse production forecasts Monitor daily changes in production, expected volume, variety packed, count/size distribution and grade distribution Identify changes between forecast and actual production Receive and analyse customer demand from commercial team. Understand commercial demand by customer, and customer requirements by variety, grade and count Identify shortages, excesses and potential stock risks Identify products that need alternative customers, and where sales should be increased or reduced Advise the commercial team on what’s available to sell, shortages, excesses, and where substitutions or exchanges may be required Recommend which customers should receive specific fruit, prioritising strategic customers and the best commercial return – based of the commercial strategy provided Help the business avoid overselling a variety, count or grade, underutilising available fruit, or allocating the wrong fruit to the wrong customer Own the company’s pack plans Prepare the demand analysis before weekly commercial meetings Translate demand into practical pack requirements and adjust plans as production changes Monitor whether pack plans are being achieved and identify deviations early Present the pack plans to the commercial and production teams on a weekly basis Analyse budgeted production vs actual production. Identify reasons for variances. Maintain direct communication with packhouses on expected production, packing dates, produce orders, grade and count splits, quality information, and delays or unexpected changes Maintain direct communication with the production teams in the packhouses Requirements Grade 12 Degree in engineering / industrial engineering Ideally an industrial engineering background Minimum of 2 years relevant experience, preferably gained in the citrus industry Advanced Microsoft Excel skills The ability to code / develop systems is a strong advantage Valid drivers licence and own transport