The Demand Planning Manager will ensure the business has the right stock, in the right place, at the right time while balancing customer availability, service levels, inventory and working capital.
The successful candidate must have hands-on experience using RELEX within a demand planning, forecasting or replenishment environment.
Working closely with Commercial, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations and Finance, you will lead the development of a robust consensus demand plan and play a key role within the wider S&OP / IBP process.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Own and develop the end-to-end demand planning process across the business.
Produce accurate short, medium and long-term demand forecasts across a large and complex SKU portfolio.
Analyse historical sales, customer demand, seasonality, market trends and promotional activity to develop robust forecasts.
Manage forecasting across multiple products, categories, customers and channels.
Continuously monitor and improve forecast accuracy and forecast bias.
Identify significant changes in demand and ensure these are communicated effectively across the wider supply chain.
Challenge assumptions and ensure commercial forecasts are supported by appropriate data.
Manage demand volatility within a fast-moving FMCG environment.
Ensure demand plans are appropriately translated into supply and inventory requirements.
RELEX
The Demand Planning Manager will act as a key user of RELEX and will be expected to maximise the capability of the system across forecasting, planning and replenishment.
Responsibilities will include:
Using RELEX to create, analyse and maintain demand forecasts.
Reviewing system-generated forecasts and applying appropriate commercial intelligence and overrides.
Managing forecasting parameters and identifying opportunities to improve system performance.
Analysing exceptions and investigating significant forecast variances.
Using RELEX data to support inventory and replenishment decisions.
Improving utilisation of RELEX across the planning function.
Developing reporting and KPIs from RELEX to provide greater visibility of demand performance.
Supporting continuous improvement and optimisation of planning processes within the system.
Coaching and developing team members in effective RELEX usage.
Previous hands-on RELEX experience is essential for this position.
S&OP / IBP
Play a key role in the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
Develop and present the consensus demand plan.
Work closely with Commercial and Sales teams to understand future demand, customer activity and market changes.
Ensure promotional activity, NPD, customer wins/losses and seasonal demand are incorporated into the forecast.
Challenge unrealistic commercial assumptions using data and historical performance.
Highlight potential supply constraints, inventory risks and service implications.
Provide senior stakeholders with clear analysis around demand changes and business risks.
Help drive greater cross-functional ownership of forecast accuracy.
Inventory & Availability
Work closely with Supply Planning, Procurement and Operations to ensure demand plans support appropriate inventory levels and product availability.
Key areas will include:
Stock availability
Inventory optimisation
Safety-stock requirements
Stock-outs
Excess inventory
Slow-moving and obsolete stock
Working capital
Service levels
Promotional stock
Seasonal inventory
Product lifecycle management
The Demand Planning Manager will continually seek opportunities to improve availability while reducing unnecessary inventory investment.
Promotional & Seasonal Planning
Operating within FMCG, the role will manage significant fluctuations in demand created by promotions, seasonality and changing customer behaviour.
Responsibilities include:
Building promotional forecasts.
Analysing previous promotional performance.
Working with Commercial teams to understand planned activity.
Identifying potential demand uplifts and associated supply requirements.
Measuring promotional forecast accuracy.
Conducting post-event analysis.
Applying learnings to future promotional activity.
NPD & Product Lifecycle Management
Incorporate new product introductions into the demand plan.
Develop initial forecasts for new products where limited historical data exists.
Work closely with Commercial, Marketing and Supply Chain teams around product launches.
Monitor early sales performance against forecast.
Manage demand implications associated with product transitions and delisting.
Minimise obsolete inventory when products are discontinued or replaced.
Ensure appropriate stock is available to support successful product launches.
Team Leadership
Depending on the structure of the business, the Demand Planning Manager will lead and develop a team of Demand Planners / Forecasting Analysts.
Responsibilities will include:
Setting objectives and KPIs.
Coaching and developing team members.
Improving analytical and forecasting capability.
Creating a high-performance planning culture.
Ensuring consistent planning processes are followed.
Developing RELEX capability across the team.
Providing clear ownership and accountability for forecast performance.
Key KPIs
Performance will typically be measured against:
Forecast accuracy
Forecast bias
Customer service / OTIF
Product availability
Stock-outs
Inventory value
Inventory turns
Days of inventory
Excess stock
Slow-moving and obsolete inventory
Promotional forecast accuracy
NPD forecast performance
Working capital
RELEX forecast/system performance
Experience Required
The successful candidate will ideally have:
Significant experience within Demand Planning / Forecasting, ideally at Demand Pl
Demand Planning Manager in Wolverhampton employer: SF Partners Careers
Join a dynamic and innovative technology start-up in Birmingham, where your contributions as a Mechanical Lead will directly shape the future of cutting-edge AI-enabled products. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and creativity, the company fosters a vibrant work culture that encourages personal growth and professional development, offering competitive salaries, bonuses, and a range of benefits. This is not just a job; it's an opportunity to take ownership of exciting projects and be part of a passionate team driving technological advancements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Demand Planning Manager in Wolverhampton
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like SF Partners Careers.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like SF Partners Careers? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit SF Partners Careers's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Demand Planning Manager role at SF Partners Careers, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at SF Partners Careers
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where SF Partners Careers operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to SF Partners Careers. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at SF Partners Careers.
