Africa Export Planning Lead

Overview

Supply

About The Role

• Export Planning Lead will be responsible for managing and coordinating all export planning activities to ensure timely and accurate supply of products from Middle East to Sub Saharan Africa markets.
• This role encompasses production planning, shipment coordination, export documentation, and proactive communication with internal and external stakeholders to control parallel imports, mitigate supply risks and maintain operational efficiency.
• The scope spans E2E ownership for SSA export planning covering all RC and Scitra-sourced portfolios, in addition to Durex and Moov sourced from India and Veet sourced from France.
• This includes, but is not limited to, all customers previously consolidating at JAFZA.
• Part of the deliverable of the role is physical visits to the DBs/Aggregators for weekly operational check-in and stock recons.
• Your responsibilities
• Prepare and reconcile stock and Goods-in-Transit (GIT) reports, ensuring discrepancies are identified and addressed promptly.
• Develop, align, and share production plans (firm orders and forecasts) with the factory.
• Maintain and update shipment plans while communicating changes to SSA Sales in a timely manner.
• Identify, evaluate, and escalate potential supply risks to relevant stakeholders.
• Validate customer credit status before raising firm orders.
• Follow up with the factory on order status and Goods Receipt Notes (GRNs).
• Ensure price validation against approved SKUs and aligned market price list.
• Coordinate with freight forwarders for shipment pickup, vessel booking, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery to customers.
• Provide regular shipment status updates to SSA Sales teams.
• Weekly cadence that involves visits to the Aggregators in JA to ensure full stock management and track and tracing compliance.
• Ensure all mandatory export documentation from the loading point is complete, accurate, and compliant.
• Manage invoice creation and ensure timely and accurate order closure in ERP systems.
• Validate secondary documentation (e.g., Master Bill of Lading) when required.
• Support adherence to compliance standards, trade regulations, and internal audit requirements.
• Maintain weekly engagement with SSA Sales for operational alignment and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Customer Service, Order Management, and Logistics teams to ensure seamless execution of export orders.
• Build strong working relationships with factories, freight forwarders, and SSA partners.
• The experience we're looking for
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in export planning, international logistics, or supply chain operations.
• Strong understanding of production planning, export documentation, and shipment processes.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP or equivalent) and advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skill
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• The skills for success
• Supply Chain Management, Business Partnership, Collaboration and partnership building, Relationship Management, Business accumen, Productivity management, Improve business processes, Advanced Analytics, Data Analytics, Supply Chain Planning, Logistics Management.
• What we offer
• With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way.
• We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally.
• We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market.
• Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt's potential future successes.
• For eligible roles, we also offer short-term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results.
• You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt's pay for performance philosophy.

Equality