At a Glance
- Tasks: Support business planning activities, ensuring accurate sales forecasting and data-driven decision-making.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on commercial and consumer product groups.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving sales performance and collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in business analysis and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment that values innovation and teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 Β£ per year.
At the market level following HQ guidelines, she/he will support all Business Planning activities for both Commercial and Consumer product groups with a primary focus on Commercial while ensuring business continuity and backup support for Consumer. The role contributes to accurate sales forecasting, structured governance, and data-driven decision-making by coordinating planning inputs, consolidating results, and preparing performance materials for management reviews. The local function is centrally driven and operates within a collaborative model that integrates local market insights and customer value. This role reports to the Sales Operations Manager and works closely with two Sales Directors with a functional reporting line to central Business Planning.
Responsibilities
- Sales Planning / Landing Point Alignment / DP input: Prepare weekly Landing Point (LP) and Sales Planning in coordination with the LSCM team ensuring customer delivery reliability and enabling performance management to support the achievement of company targets. Ensure monthly input to Central Demand Planning team to secure demand signal quality facilitating accurate supply planning. Ensure coordination and alignment across pricing strategy, marketing, logistics & supply chain (LSCM), and Go-To-Market (GTM) plans.
- Gap Analysis & Action Planning: Identify gaps in performance and convert insights into concrete action plans to support sales target achievement together with Sales Directors. Monitor sales performance proactively, identify deviations from plan, and conduct root-cause analyses to initiate corrective actions.
- Streamlined Management Reporting: In alignment with HQs guidelines, coordinate and support the preparation of Sales Performance Business Reviews, Executive Review meetings, and handle ad-hoc requests from VPs, central teams, or local Sales Directors. Consolidate market performance results and trends highlighting key drivers, risks & opportunities. Ensure alignment of all business performance materials with HQ templates and standards.
- Budgeting (OB Field budget and Customer Targets): Coordinate and prepare Budget (OB) and Latest Forecast (LF) processes at the local level granting B4P inputs. Consolidate high-level DUMS input for OB and contribute to financial simulations and what-if scenarios in alignment with HQ demand planning Business Planning and Sales team. Coordinate the preparation and maintenance of the field sales budget in alignment with HQ guidelines and local Sales team which underpins the Sales Incentive Plan (SIP). Coordinate and manage customer targets in collaboration with the local organization to support performance goals following HQ policies granting follow-up and alignment with Pricing team.
- Sales Enablement & Cross Functional Collaboration: Promote strong engagement with local Sales teams through kick-off meetings, alignment sessions, and interactions with key customers. Contribute to sales enablement and execution efforts through close contact with the Sales teams, ensure continuous market feedback, explain the guidelines, and provide operational tools and presentations to effectively activate and support the Sales force. Ensure regional coordination and execute company priorities incorporating local market insight into overall sales GTM plans to ensure customer centricity and market needs. Collaborate closely with Sales Leaders, Finance, Marketing, and LSCM to ensure aligned assumptions, realistic targets, and timely information flow. Support coordination between Consumer and Commercial planning activities to ensure continuity, standardization, and mutual backup when required.
- Process Optimization & Standardization: Contribute to simplification and standardization of planning and reporting processes in line with HQ guidance. Support automation and digitalization initiatives aimed at improving forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency.
Required Experience IC Key Skills: Accounts Handling, Business Analysis, Business Administration, HACCP.
Business Planning Specialist in Warwick employer: Bridgestone
Contact Detail:
Bridgestone Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Business Planning Specialist in Warwick
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes itβs not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Business Planning Specialist role.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. We want you to be able to discuss how your skills align with their goals, especially in sales planning and performance management. Show them youβre ready to hit the ground running!
β¨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your answers. We suggest focusing on your experience with gap analysis and action planning, as these are key aspects of the role.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Planning Specialist in Warwick
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Planning Specialist role. Highlight your experience in sales planning, gap analysis, and cross-functional collaboration, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves data-driven decision-making, be sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive results in previous positions. We love seeing candidates who can turn insights into action!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging: While we want to see your personality shine through, remember to maintain a professional tone. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless itβs relevant to the role. We appreciate clarity and conciseness!
Apply Through Our Website: Donβt forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures that your application gets to the right people quickly and efficiently. We canβt wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bridgestone
β¨Know Your Numbers
As a Business Planning Specialist, you'll be dealing with sales forecasts and performance metrics. Brush up on relevant data and be ready to discuss how you've used analytics in past roles to drive decision-making. This shows you understand the importance of data-driven insights.
β¨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the company's market position and competitors. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their sales planning and performance management. Showing that you have done your homework will impress the interviewers and demonstrate your commitment.
β¨Collaboration is Key
This role requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated across departments. Highlighting your teamwork skills will show that you can effectively engage with Sales Directors, Finance, and Marketing to achieve common goals.
β¨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you'd handle specific challenges, like identifying performance gaps or coordinating budgets. Practise articulating your thought process and action plans clearly. This will help you convey your problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking.