At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and create a top-notch demand planning function from scratch.
- Company: Rapidly growing global manufacturing organisation with impressive year-on-year growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, comprehensive benefits, and excellent career progression.
- Other info: High-profile role with visibility across the executive leadership team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of supply chain strategy and make a lasting impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in demand planning and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a rapidly expanding global manufacturing organisation that continues to achieve impressive year-on-year growth across international markets. As part of the next phase of the company's evolution, they are seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Head of Demand Planning to establish and lead a best-in-class demand planning function. This is a genuinely greenfield role, offering the successful candidate the chance to design processes, build capability, influence strategy, and create a scalable planning framework that supports continued global expansion.
The Opportunity
- You will be responsible for developing the demand planning vision and roadmap, creating a robust forecasting capability and driving alignment across Sales, Commercial, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain.
- You will lead the implementation of best-practice demand planning processes whilst providing strategic insight that enables the business to make informed decisions around capacity, inventory, service and growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and implement the company's end-to-end demand planning strategy.
- Establish forecasting processes, governance and KPI frameworks from the ground up.
- Lead and facilitate the S&OP / IBP demand review process.
- Partner with commercial and regional teams to improve forecast accuracy and demand visibility.
- Build and develop a high-performing demand planning team as the function grows.
- Drive data-led decision making through analysis of market trends, customer demand patterns and business performance.
- Influence inventory, production and capacity planning decisions through accurate forecasting.
- Champion continuous improvement and planning excellence across the organisation.
- Support the implementation and optimisation of planning systems and tools.
About You
We are looking for an experienced demand planning leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and is excited by the challenge of building something new. You will ideally possess:
- Significant experience within demand planning, forecasting or integrated business planning within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience leading S&OP or IBP processes across complex supply chains.
- Proven success building or transforming planning functions and processes.
- Strong leadership capabilities with experience developing high-performing teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leadership.
- Strong analytical capability and a data-driven approach to decision making.
- Experience working within global or multi-site organisations.
- Exposure to advanced planning systems, ERP platforms and forecasting tools.
Why Join?
- Rare opportunity to create and lead a demand planning function from inception.
- Join a global manufacturer experiencing sustained year-on-year growth.
- High-profile position with significant visibility across the executive leadership team.
- Opportunity to shape future supply chain strategy and business performance.
- Opportunity to develop into a group role.
- Excellent career progression within a rapidly growing international organisation.
- Competitive salary, bonus and comprehensive benefits package.
If you are a strategic demand planning leader looking for the opportunity to build, influence and make a lasting impact within a high-growth manufacturing business please send your CV to.
Head of Demand Planning in Woking employer: Robert Walters
Join a leading organisation in the UK property and infrastructure sector as a Legal Director - Construction and Development, where you will be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovation. With a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth, this role offers a unique chance to influence major projects while enjoying a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and development. Located in Cheshire, you will benefit from a vibrant community and access to a wealth of resources in the construction and development field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Demand Planning in Woking
✨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 Robert Walters, 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 Head of Demand Planning.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Demand Planning in Woking
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 Robert Walters. 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 Robert Walters 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 Robert Walters
✨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 Robert Walters.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Robert Walters
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Robert Walters 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!
