Kinaxis Planning Systems Lead, Europe

Castrol is one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, serving customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Castrol brands are recognised globally for their premium quality and high performance, shaped by the company’s commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology. With products sold in more than 150 countries, Castrol has helped keep things moving on roads and racetracks, air, sea, and space for over 125 years.

Job description

About the team

This is a role for someone who understands both how supply chain planning works and what the technology can make possible. Representing Europe in Castrol’s global community of planning system experts, you’ll combine regional technical leadership with hands-on Kinaxis Maestro work and the development of planning systems specialists.

Key tasks

• Own the Europe enhancement roadmap for Kinaxis Maestro, prioritising regional process changes, implementations and system improvements with the Global Planning Centre of Excellence, planning teams, IT and technical providers.
• Translate planning needs into clear requirements for developers, bringing an end-to-end view of demand, supply, inventory and master data. Assess system capabilities so changes support the wider planning process.
• Carry out agreed authoring and minor system enhancements, subject to the appropriate certification and governance requirements.
• Provide hands-on Kinaxis expertise to users, troubleshoot and triage defects, and coordinate resolution and escalation through the defined support process according to criticality and business impact.
• Own regional process governance: review how the tool is used against the global planning playbook, standards, policies and governance frameworks, and address gaps in processes and system capability.
• Lead regional change and adoption through training, coaching and onboarding, maintaining operating procedures and practical guidance aligned with the global planning model.
• Lead and develop planning systems specialists, holding performance and development discussions, building organisational knowledge and contributing to wider talent management.
• Lead the regional planning specialist community, and share trends, concerns and user feedback with global communities, IT, process owners and Order-to-Cash teams. Represent regional planning needs in future developments involving machine learning, AI and Decision Intelligence.

Experience required

• 10 years’ experience in supply chain planning systems design and implementation, with advanced Contributor- and Author-level experience in Kinaxis RapidResponse or Maestro.
• Deep understanding of demand, supply and inventory planning and planning master data, supported by hands-on system implementation experience.
• Proven experience leading teams using a digital end-to-end planning tool, including developing others’ capability and managing performance.
• Strong analytical, process and digital problem-solving skills, including assessing planning behaviours and improving how people use the system.
• Proficiency in supply chain software and ERP systems such as SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA.
• Effective communication, training, coaching and change-management skills, with experience working across local, regional and global planning and IT teams, including colleagues in Pune and other markets.
• A bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred, not essential.

Privacy

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to Castrol recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.).