Senior Supply Chain Manager

About the role

You own the end-to-end demand planning function for Careem Grocery, translating complex operational signals into robust supply chain decisions. You are responsible for building and maintaining statistical forecasting models that drive accuracy across SKUs, categories, and dark store footprints. You will lead the S&OP process, ensuring cross-functional alignment between commercial, operations, and logistics teams. You will develop frameworks to manage demand variability driven by seasonality, promotions, and macroeconomic factors. You will leverage advanced analytics and SQL to extract insights and automate data workflows. You will communicate risk and variance analysis clearly to senior leadership to support strategic decisions. You will evaluate and implement AI and ML tooling to improve forecast accuracy and operational efficiency. You will partner with inventory and logistics teams to design replenishment logic that meets quick commerce speed and service level targets.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Forecasting & Modelling: Build and maintain demand forecasting models across SKUs, categories, and dark store locations. Go beyond Excel - leverage statistical methods (time series, regression, ML-assisted forecasting) and own the tooling decisions that get us there. You should be comfortable pulling your own data in SQL and sense-checking model outputs against ground truth.
• Demand Variability & Scenario Planning: Develop frameworks to manage volatility from seasonality, promotions, new product launches, and macroeconomic signals. Run scenario models before they become supply crises.
• S&OP Process Leadership: Own the weekly and monthly S&OP cadence. Facilitate cross-functional alignment across commercial, ops, and logistics. Surface gaps early, propose solutions, and drive decisions, not just document them.
• Inventory Optimisation: Set and monitor inventory targets by SKU and location to balance availability against holding cost and waste. Work closely with category and logistics teams to design replenishment logic that performs at quick commerce speed.
• Data & Tooling: You will be hands-on with data. Write and maintain SQL queries for demand signals, build dashboards that non-technical stakeholders can act on, and explore AI/ML tooling to improve forecast accuracy. If a process can be automated, you will be the one to build the case and execute it.
• Insight & Communication: Translate complex demand signals into clear narratives for senior leadership. Forecast updates, variance analysis, risk flags - you own the story and the numbers behind it.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with commercial, finance, logistics, and technology teams to ensure data integrity and alignment on assumptions. Lead initiatives that bridge analytical rigor with operational reality.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance forecasting accuracy, reduce manual effort, and strengthen governance across the planning cycle.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a closely related quantitative field (MBA or supply chain certification like APICS/CSCP is a plus).
• Experience: 5+ years in demand planning, supply chain, or a related function - strongly preferring quick commerce, grocery, e-commerce, or high-velocity retail. Experience in a high-growth tech company or start-up is a meaningful plus.
• Advanced SQL: Fluent and hands-on capability; you write your own queries and use SQL to validate data quality and model outputs.
• Analytical Rigor: Strong grasp of statistical concepts and comfort working with large data sets to derive actionable insights.
• Operational Acumen: Demonstrated ability to manage trade-offs between service levels, inventory costs, and waste in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication Skills: Proven ability to present complex analytical findings to senior stakeholders and influence decision-making without direct authority.
• Ownership: Self-driven mindset with strong accountability for delivering on commitments and driving initiatives to completion.
• Adaptability: Comfortable operating in a dynamic, high-growth environment where priorities evolve rapidly.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in quick commerce, grocery, or similar on-demand categories.
• Familiarity with AI/ML tools and techniques for forecasting or optimization.
• Background in S&OP or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Experience with supply chain design and network optimization.

Practical notes

• This role requires availability during standard business hours in the Dubai, United Arab Emirates time zone.
• Willingness to travel within the region may be required for cross-functional collaboration and business reviews.
• Candidates must hold a valid visa or be eligible to obtain a work visa for the United Arab Emirates as part of the hiring process.
• The position is subject to the company's standard onboarding timelines and completion of required documentation.