At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial planning and deliver market-winning strategies in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
- Company: Join Ferrero, a global leader in sweet-packaged foods with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy a caring workplace with competitive benefits and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by translating data into actionable business decisions.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and experience in FMCG, forecasting, and stakeholder management.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Commercial Planning Manager on a 12 month FTC, to lead the planning and delivery of market-winning commercial plans, ensuring budgeted volumes are achieved while maximising forecast accuracy and balancing demand with available supply. This role plays a critical part in driving business performance by owning the planning and sell-in performance across defined brands and categories.
Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Trade Marketing, Category Development and Supply Chain teams, you will provide valuable commercial insights, challenge assumptions, and influence decision-making across the business. You will also take joint ownership of the weekly Area volume call, aligning senior stakeholders behind a clear and accurate forecast before providing comprehensive updates to the UK&I Regional leadership team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an analytical and commercially minded professional who thrives in a fast-paced FMCG environment and enjoys translating data into actionable business decisions.
Main Responsibilities:
- Lead the planning cycle across Trade Marketing, collaborating with Strategy & Planning to ensure robust processes, clear timelines and successful delivery of key business milestones.
- Own the Sales Planning process, building and implementing planning timetables, ensuring deadlines are met, and challenging commercial assumptions through insights gathered from Category Development, Customer Category and Commercial Strategy teams.
- Contribute to the development of Budget, SAF and S&OP plans, providing meaningful analysis on performance, future opportunities and areas of risk.
- Manage the 0–18 month rolling forecast across your assigned brands and categories, analysing performance drivers and risks, leading monthly brand and account review meetings, and ensuring forward forecasts remain accurate and aligned with business objectives.
- Oversee seasonal SKU planning, NPD launches and product changes, ensuring demand is accurately forecasted and commercial plans are fully aligned with category ambitions and supply timelines.
- Identify and resolve challenges that could impact performance.
- Balance demand and supply by developing commercial scenarios, managing surplus stock risks, and supporting cross-functional decision-making to maximise profitability and product availability.
- Lead the weekly short-term forecasting process, coordinating inputs from Sales, Finance and Supply Chain teams to create an aligned volume outlook.
- Present weekly updates to UK&I regional leadership, providing clear commentary on performance, forecast changes and variance against budget and prior year results.
- Continuously seek opportunities to enhance planning effectiveness and challenge existing ways of working through innovation and best practice.
About You:
You are a highly analytical and commercially aware planning professional with experience operating within an FMCG environment. You have a strong understanding of forecasting, operational planning and commercial performance management, combined with the ability to influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
You are comfortable working with large data sets and are highly proficient in Excel and Power BI. Your strong understanding of the UK grocery and retail landscape enables you to translate market trends and performance insights into actionable plans that drive business results.
You have a proven ability to manage multiple priorities, lead cross-functional discussions and deliver clear, data-driven recommendations. You thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy building strong relationships across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Trade Marketing and Supply Chain teams.
Experience within Sales, Supply Chain or Category Management environments, along with knowledge of Nielsen or Circana data, would be advantageous. Most importantly, you are a proactive problem solver with excellent communication skills, a continuous improvement mindset and a passion for driving commercial success through effective planning and forecasting.
What We Offer:
Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.
About Ferrero:
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more at ferrero.com.
DE&I at Ferrero:
Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
Commercial Planning Manager in London employer: Ferrero International S.A.
Ferrero is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development within a dynamic and inclusive work culture. As an Indirect Procurement Buyer in the vibrant UK & Ireland market, you'll have the opportunity to influence key procurement strategies while collaborating with iconic brands, all within a supportive environment that values innovation and strong supplier partnerships. With a commitment to diversity and a focus on nurturing talent, Ferrero offers a rewarding career path for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the FMCG sector.
Contact Details:
Ferrero International S.A. Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Planning Manager in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Planning Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Ferrero International S.A. and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ferrero International S.A.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Ferrero International S.A. will want to see.
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Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Ferrero International S.A.. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
