At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Demand Planning team and enhance forecasting processes across the business.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on supply chain excellence and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving demand planning and driving business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in Demand Planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
We’re looking for an experienced
Demand Planning Lead to lead our Demand Planning team and play a key role in strengthening forecasting and S&OP processes across the business.
Working within our wider Supply Chain Planning function, you’ll be responsible for ensuring we have robust and reliable demand forecasts across our product portfolios and customers, helping the business make better decisions around supply, inventory and customer service.
This is a highly collaborative role, partnering closely with
Sales, Commercial, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain teams to bring together commercial expectations and operational capabilities.
You’ll help identify risks and opportunities early, challenge assumptions and ensure there is clear alignment around our demand plans.
Alongside leading and developing the team, you’ll have the opportunity to improve how we plan, driving greater forecast accuracy, stronger planning disciplines and continuous improvement across our Demand Planning and S&OP processes.
- How You’ll Make an Impact
- Lead, support and develop the Demand Planning team, building capability, engagement and strong performance across the function.
- Take oversight of demand forecasts across our product portfolios, customers and regions, ensuring they are accurate, reliable and supported by clear assumptions.
- Support the delivery and continued development of our
S&OP / IBP processes , ensuring demand planning is effectively connected to wider business planning.
- Lead monthly demand reviews, bringing together Sales, Commercial, Finance and Supply Chain stakeholders to create a clear and aligned view of future demand.
- Provide constructive challenge to commercial forecasts and assumptions, using data and insight to improve the quality of our planning.
- Monitor forecast accuracy, bias and other key planning KPIs, identifying root causes behind variances and driving appropriate improvement actions.
- Ensure risks, opportunities and changes in demand are identified early and clearly communicated to relevant stakeholders.
- Work closely with Supply Planning to provide clear short and medium-term demand outlooks and support the identification and resolution of demand and supply gaps.
- Drive greater consistency across forecasting processes, reporting standards and planning disciplines.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen forecast reliability, planning effectiveness and overall process maturity.
- Support the implementation and optimisation of planning systems, tools, reporting and dashboards.
- Identify and share best practice across the wider Planning and Supply Chain teams, supporting the development of scalable processes as the business continues to grow.
- Contribute to wider Supply Chain, S&OP and business transformation initiatives where required.
- What You’ll Bring
- Strong experience within
Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Forecasting or S&OP , ideally within an FMCG, manufacturing, retail or similarly fast-paced environment.
- Previous experience leading, coaching or developing a Demand Planning or Supply Chain Planning team.
- A strong understanding of forecasting methodologies, demand planning principles and S&OP / IBP processes.
- The ability to understand the story behind the numbers, identify trends and challenge assumptions rather than simply reporting data.
- Strong analytical capability and advanced Excel skills, with the confidence to work with complex data and translate it into meaningful business insight.
- Excellent stakeholder management and business partnering skills, with the confidence to influence colleagues across Sales, Commercial, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex planning information clearly to different audiences.
- A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to manage ambiguity, competing priorities and changing business requirements.
- Experience using planning systems such as
SAP APO/IBP, Oracle, Anaplan or similar would be advantageous.
- Experience supporting
Integrated Business Planning, planning transformation or process improvement initiatives would be beneficial.
- Professional Supply Chain or Planning qualifications such as
APICS, CPIM or CSCP would be welcomed but are not essential.
Demand Planning Lead in Birmingham employer: Pelsis Group
As a Supply Planning Lead at our company, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. We offer competitive benefits, including flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional advancement, all set in a vibrant location that fosters innovation and teamwork. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Demand Planning Lead in Birmingham
✨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 Pelsis Group, 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 Demand Planning Lead.
We think you need these skills to ace Demand Planning Lead in Birmingham
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 Pelsis Group. 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 Pelsis Group 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 Pelsis Group
✨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 Pelsis Group.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Pelsis Group
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Pelsis Group 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!
