Forecaster in Newtownards

Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited (The Group) is the second largest dairy processor on the island of Ireland. The business is complex and ambitious with a milk supply pool of 2 billion litres of milk, drawn from over 3,200 family farms across 16 counties. With the most modern dairy manufacturing facilities in 8 locations on a cross-border basis, the Group supplies to a broad customer base including some of the world’s foremost ‘blue chip’ companies across the dairy food ingredients, foodservice and consumer food channels on a domestic Ireland, UK, European and global basis. Internationally we export some 240 different products to over 100 countries worldwide.

The Group’s Agribusiness Division (Lakeland Agri) operates a state-of-the-art Animal Feed Manufacturing Facility and is a leading and innovative provider of the highest quality feeds and agricultural inputs to dairy, beef and sheep farmers across the north and south of Ireland.

Applications are invited for the above position to be based at our Newtownards site:

The role

We’re looking for a detail-oriented forecaster to take ownership of demand planning for our UK and IRL Foodservice and Consumer Foods portfolios. The successful applicant will be the "engine" behind our supply chain, ensuring our finished goods are where they need to be, when they need to be there.

Key responsibilities will include (Not limited to):

• Produce timely demand forecasts for UK, IRL, and international portfolios across Foodservice and Consumer Foods.
• Maintain data integrity within forecasting tools (e.g., Mercia) to ensure seamless integration and execution within SAP/ERP environments.
• Monitor and report on Forecast Accuracy and other critical KPIs as required.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Customer Care, Procurement, Production, Finance and directly with the customer in all aspects of listing, delisting, seasonal and/or promotional activity and any significant customer requirements as required.
• Participate in periodic reviews of Forecasts with Commercial and Sales Managers.
• Contribute to the periodic review of the continued viability of each stock keeping unit ensuring close monitoring of finished goods and raw materials with regards to obsolescence (Dead) or threatened obsolescence (REV).
• Assist the New Product Development and Variant process with regards to setting up a new forecast as required.
• Contribute as necessary to the Stock Review process in order to minimise write-off, including periodic review of products approaching min-Life remaining.

What do I need to be successful in this role?

• Previous experience from working within a supply chain-related role (Purchasing, planning, etc) would be advantageous.
• Previous experience from within in a customer-facing environment.
• Possess the ability to collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders at various levels, from warehouse teams to senior management.
• A strong aptitude for working with data, including the ability to manipulate, and present findings to stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues and propose solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines.

If you have the necessary skills and attributes to meet this challenging opportunity in a dynamic, high volume and fast-moving business, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Application Process:

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV by no later than Friday 3rd April 2026 at midday.

Lakeland Dairies is committed to having an inclusive workplace where every employee feels they belong. If you require accommodations to be made during the recruitment process or have questions relating to accessibility, please contact us at recrutiment@lakelanddairies.com.