At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead inventory planning and optimise product availability across Shell's convenience retail network.
- Company: Join Shell, a leading UK retail business focused on innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual performance increases, paid parental leave, and extensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving the UK's energy transition towards net-zero.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experience and business performance in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply planning, demand forecasting, and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Join one of the UK's most diverse and ambitious retail businesses. This role is particularly well suited to FMCG professionals who excel in using data and planning insights to optimise forecasting, replenishment, and business performance.
Shell UK Mobility & Convenience operates one of the UK's largest company-owned retail networks, with the convenience shop proposition playing a critical role in customer experience, non-fuel sales, margin delivery, waste control and network profitability.
As the Inventory Planning Manager, you will be accountable for managing product forecast exceptions to improve convenience retail product availability, inventory health and order proposal replenishment performance across the Shell UK convenience retail network. You will lead the optimisation of forecasting and replenishment capability through the RELEX platform, ensuring the right products are available at the right time while balancing sales growth, waste, working capital and operational efficiency.
This is a business-outcome focused role, expected to own performance, shape planning governance, influence cross-functional priorities and translate data, system recommendations and operational insight into practical action that improves customer experience and strengthens profitability.
- Improved inventory productivity through stronger stock cover, replenishment parameters and working capital discipline.
- Reduced waste, markdown exposure and stock obsolescence, particularly in fresh, chilled, frozen, food-to-go and other high-volatility categories.
- Improved forecast accuracy and replenishment effectiveness through high-quality data, clear governance and robust planning routines.
- Stronger delivery of commercial plans, including promotions, seasonal events, range changes, new product launches and delists.
- Increased adoption and maturity of Relex as a core business planning capability across Convenience Retail & Services.
- Reduced manual intervention over time by resolving recurring exceptions at source and simplifying planning processes.
- Improved supplier, wholesaler and distribution performance through clear issue resolution, escalation and service improvement routines.
Own availability and replenishment performance across the network, identifying risks to customer availability, lost sales and commercial delivery and prioritising action where intervention creates the greatest business value.
Inventory optimisation: Balance availability with stock cover, waste and working capital by maintaining effective replenishment parameters, reviewing inventory productivity and challenging overstock or understock positions.
Lead the business use, governance and continuous improvement of Relex forecasting and replenishment processes, ensuring system recommendations are reviewed, challenged and translated into effective business action.
Exception-based planning: Establish and lead daily and weekly exception-management routines that focus attention on the highest-value issues across demand, supply, stock, data, supplier service and site execution.
Commercial plan execution: Partner with Category Management, Supply Chain and Operations to ensure range changes, promotions, seasonal events, new product launches and delists are supported by robust planning assumptions and stock execution routines.
Shape and embed the planning operating model, including parameter governance, escalation routes, standard routines, playbooks and performance reviews.
Identify recurring root causes and drive sustainable fixes that reduce manual workarounds, improve forecast quality and increase confidence in automated replenishment.
Influence internal teams, suppliers, wholesalers and distribution partners to resolve service issues, improve supply reliability and align replenishment activity with business priorities.
Key Dimensions: Planning scope across the Shell UK company-owned convenience retail network. Coverage of multiple retail categories, including ambient grocery, impulse, foodservice, fresh, chilled, frozen and seasonal trading areas. Performance focus across availability, forecast accuracy, supplier service, waste, stock cover, working capital, exception volumes and commercial execution. Close working relationships with Category Management, Supply Chain, Operations, IT, Relex super users, suppliers, wholesalers and distribution partners. Active involvement in RELEX implementation, pilot activity, go-live readiness, hypercare, issue triage and post-implementation improvement. Acts as the business lead for inventory and replenishment planning capability, influencing priorities across multiple functions and shaping future planning processes, governance and ways of working.
Key Responsibilities: Monitor Relex forecasts, replenishment recommendations and exception alerts to identify risks and opportunities across the retail network. Take timely action on demand, supply and inventory exceptions, ensuring effort is focused on the issues with the greatest business value. Review and optimise replenishment parameters, including lead times, minimum order quantities, order frequency, safety stock, case sizes, seasonal profiles and promotional uplift assumptions. Analyse demand patterns, seasonality, promotions, range changes, local events and site-level trading behaviour to improve forecast quality and replenishment outcomes. Work with suppliers, wholesalers and distribution partners to resolve service issues, improve order fulfilment and mitigate product availability risks. Identify the root causes of recurring exceptions and recommend process, system or data improvements that reduce manual intervention over time. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, planning playbooks and governance routines for Relex-enabled forecasting and replenishment. Provide clear performance insight on availability, forecast accuracy, service level, stock cover, waste and exception volumes to support business decision making. Champion a data-led, exception-based planning approach, helping teams move from legacy and manual ways of working to a more scalable planning model.
Experience in supply planning, demand forecasting, replenishment, inventory management or supply chain operations, ideally within food retail, FMCG, convenience or multi-site environments. Strong analytical capability, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, diagnose issues and translate insight into clear business action. Experience working with forecasting, replenishment or supply chain planning systems. Relex experience is advantageous, but experience with similar planning solutions will also be valuable. Good understanding of availability, forecast accuracy, stock cover, waste, supplier service and inventory optimisation measures. Ability to work cross-functionally with commercial, category, operations, supply chain, IT and external partner teams. Confidence to shape new processes, challenge existing ways of working and lead through ambiguity during the implementation of a new planning capability. Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex planning issues in a practical, simple and business-focused way. High attention to detail, strong numeracy and good competence in Excel, reporting tools and data visualisation platforms. Takes accountability for outcomes and understands the link between availability, customer experience, sales, waste and profitability.
Data-led judgement: Collaboration: Builds trusted relationships across Category Management, Supply Chain, Operations, IT, suppliers and distribution partners. Challenges manual workarounds, simplifies processes and looks for sustainable fixes that improve the operating model over time.
If you require any accommodations or accessibility adjustments (e.g. assistive technology, communication support, any other) during the application or interview process, please let us know directly via careers@shell.
In the years ahead, as the UK looks to strengthen energy security and deliver its 2050 net-zero goal, Shell UK aims to play a crucial role. We aim to be a major investor in the UK energy system by helping our customers decarbonise with a focus on transport and industry.
Before applying, you are advised to read our data protection policy. This policy describes the processing that may be associated with your personal data and informs you that your personal data may be transferred to Shell/Shell Group companies around the world.
Summary Location: London - Shell Centre Type: Full time
Demand and Inventory Planning Manager in London employer: Shell
At Shell, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Remote Senior Market Data Integration Lead in London, you will benefit from our commitment to employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and a supportive environment that values your contributions. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that is at the forefront of market data integration, where your expertise will drive meaningful change in the energy sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Demand and Inventory Planning Manager in London
✨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
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We think you need these skills to ace Demand and Inventory Planning Manager in London
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 Shell. 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 Shell 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 Shell
✨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 Shell.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Shell
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Shell 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!
