We are looking for a strategic and collaborative Demand Planning Manager to join our London-based team on an interim basis. In this role, you will lead the development of robust, insight-driven demand forecasts and play a key role in driving cross‑functional alignment through the S&OP process. You will work closely with stakeholders across the business to support planning, enable informed decision‑making, and contribute to the continuous improvement of tools, systems, and processes that underpin our demand planning capability.
Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver accurate demand forecasts aligned with evolving business objectives and time horizons.
- Translate commercial activity, promotions, and market trends into actionable demand insights.
- Schedule and facilitate effective meetings, achieving consensus forecasting with cross‑functional stakeholders and challenge forecast assumptions constructively.
- Act as a subject‑matter expert for demand planning in cross‑functional initiatives and projects, delivering strategic insights and technical expertise.
- Oversee product portfolio analysis, including lifecycle management, classification, and rationalisation, and make actionable recommendations to the business.
- Support the implementation and integration of tools and systems impacting demand planning, ensuring successful adoption.
- Develop and embed the IBP/SOP process, ensuring practical uptake across the business.
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators for the demand planning team.
- Maintain continuity and stability of the demand planning process during key business periods, ensuring stakeholder engagement and planning discipline.
Qualifications
- Ability to quickly understand complex global supply chain and commercial dynamics.
- Demonstrated ownership of forecasting processes within a short onboarding period.
- Experience operating effectively in fast‑paced, evolving environments with limited handover time.
- Previous experience leading, engaging, and motivating demand planning teams.
- Excellent knowledge of forecasting fundamentals and application.
- Experience in consumer goods, retail, ecommerce, or omni‑channel environments preferred.
- Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively across all functions and levels.
- Experience forecasting across high‑SKU portfolios and international markets.
- Strong influencing skills with experience managing senior stakeholders across commercial and operational functions.
- Ability to balance data‑driven forecasting with commercial judgement.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel user, proficient with Pivot Tables, lookups, dashboards, and large‑scale data analysis and manipulation (Power Query and VBA experience highly desirable).
- Experience with statistical demand‑planning software.
- Experience using SAP S4/HANA ERP system.
- Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to present complex data for business buy‑in.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and holiday allowance
- A pension contribution
- An exclusive staff discount
- Hybrid working – 3 days in office & 2 days from home, with flex start/finish times
- Access to Perkbox
- Team recognition scheme
- Mental wellbeing support
- Holiday trading
- Additional holiday for length of service
- Company bonus scheme
- Generous discounts for you and friends and family
- Season ticket loan and cycle‑to‑work scheme
- Even more discounts with Perkbox
Location: London, UK. Working arrangement: Hybrid – 3 days in office, 2 days from home.
