At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead demand planning across Europe, driving data-driven decisions and improving forecast accuracy.
- Company: Join CHEP, a global leader in sustainable logistics with a diverse workforce.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team influencing key business decisions across multiple countries.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global sustainability while shaping the future of demand planning.
- Qualifications: Experience in S&OP governance and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.
You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work‑life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.
We’re looking for a strategic and data‑driven leader to drive Demand Planning across Europe, orchestrating a complex, multi‑country environment and shaping the future of demand‑led decision making at scale. This is a high‑impact role responsible for creating a single, forward‑looking and fact‑based demand view across Europe, enabling aligned commercial, supply chain, and financial decisions while accelerating transformation through data, analytics, and planning excellence.
Reporting into senior leadership, you will act as a key business partner across Commercial, Supply Chain, and Finance, connecting stakeholders and driving standardisation, governance, and performance across the end‑to‑end planning cycle.
What You’ll Lead & Deliver- Define and execute the European Demand Planning strategy, aligned to business growth and performance objectives
- Own and orchestrate the single source of truth for demand across Europe, proactively highlighting risks, opportunities, and trade‑offs
- Drive end‑to‑end demand performance, improving forecast accuracy, reducing bias, and enabling better decision making
- Lead scenario planning and demand‑led decision support, stress‑testing assumptions in a dynamic market environment
- Establish and embed standardised S&OP / S&OE processes, governance, and ways of working across multiple countries
- Accelerate data‑driven planning excellence, leveraging tools, analytics, and market insights
- Facilitate and own the European Demand Review, ensuring alignment across issues, collections, and commercial outlook
- Act as the E2E connector, influencing stakeholders across Commercial, Retail, Supply Chain, and Finance
- Build and develop demand planning capability, strengthening skills, accountability, and mindset across teams
- Pan‑European scope across multiple countries and markets
- Leadership of a team of ~9 FTE
- Direct impact on revenue, margin, service levels, and asset productivity
- Ownership of forecast accuracy, bias reduction, and demand planning effectiveness
- Experience leading or embedding S&OP / S&OE governance, including demand review forums and decision‑making cadences
- Proven ability to drive business performance through planning
- Experience aligning Commercial, Supply Chain, and Finance around a single set of numbers
- Background in FMCG, logistics or complex operational environments preferred
- Track record in scenario planning, trade‑offs, and decision support
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders in a matrix organisation
- Business acumen: challenges assumptions and turns data into actionable insight
- Analytical & storytelling: able to simplify complexity and create clear narratives
- Performance mindset: focuses on outcomes, not process compliance
- Stakeholder influence: drives alignment across functions without authority
- Decision‑making under uncertainty: uses scenarios to guide actions in volatile environments
Hybrid Remote
Skills to succeed in the role- Coaching
- Cross‑Functional Work
- Demand Planning
- Disruptive Thinking
- Emotional Intelligence
- Feedback
- Inclusive Leadership
- Influencing
- Leading Change
- Leading Customer Centric Teams
- Mentorship
- Prioritization
- Process Improvements
- Project Delivery
- Strategic Planning
- Strategic Thinking
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land European Demand Planning Lead in Manchester
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at CHEP, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of European Demand Planning Lead.
We think you need these skills to ace European Demand Planning Lead in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at CHEP. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research CHEP and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at CHEP
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at CHEP.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by CHEP
Look into any unique supply chain challenges CHEP might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
