At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and refine demand forecasts while collaborating with various teams to ensure product availability.
- Company: Leading FMCG organisation in the food and beverage sector, focused on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Private healthcare, competitive pension, hybrid working, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on business growth through effective demand planning.
- Qualifications: Experience in demand planning or supply chain, strong analytical skills, and advanced Excel proficiency.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with opportunities for career development and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client, a leading and ever-growing organisation within the FMCG food and beverage sector, is seeking a proactive and analytically minded Demand Planner to support business growth through accurate forecasting, effective inventory planning, and strong cross-functional collaboration. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-focused planner to play a key role in shaping demand planning and supporting the S&OP process across the organisation.
Job Role
Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, the Demand Planner will be responsible for creating, monitoring, and refining demand forecasts to ensure high levels of accuracy and product availability. You will provide visibility on sales, demand, distribution, and supply trends, helping to align commercial plans with operational execution through the S&OP process. You will work closely with Commercial, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance teams to ensure that promotions, product launches, and product phase-outs are effectively incorporated into planning cycles.
Responsibilities
- Create, monitor, and continuously improve demand forecasts to meet accuracy targets.
- Support the development and maturity of the S&OP process by providing robust baseline demand forecasts.
- Analyse historical sales trends, promotional activity, and market signals to refine forecasting assumptions.
- Review forecast performance against actual sales, identifying root causes of variances and recommending corrective actions.
- Coordinate cross-functional reviews to reconcile differences between sales, marketing, and supply plans.
- Manage and maintain the end-to-end demand planning process for assigned product lines.
- Develop and support inventory strategies to ensure optimal stock levels and service performance.
- Use Power BI, Slim4, and Business Central data to track forecast performance and availability.
- Monitor stock holding levels to ensure they remain within agreed targets.
- Manage product phase-outs and obsolete stock to minimise business risk and write-offs.
- Track and report OTIF performance, highlighting risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Produce and maintain monthly brand performance trackers and end-of-month reports.
- Work collaboratively with Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams to align planning cycles.
- Proactively identify and resolve supply-demand imbalances ahead of impact.
- Support new product launches and promotional planning through accurate demand input.
Personal Profile
- Experience in Demand Planning, Supply Chain, or Inventory Management.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data.
- Confident communicator with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
- Highly organised with excellent time management and ability to work under pressure.
- Solutions-driven mindset with strong problem-solving capability.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong overall MS Office competence.
- Experience working to KPIs in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience within FMCG, ideally food and beverage, is desirable.
- Experience of S&OP processes would be advantageous.
- Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and Slim4 experience is desirable.
- Collaborative, proactive, and detail-oriented with a flexible working approach.
Hours
37.5 hours per week. Early finish on Fridays. Hybrid working with up to 2 days per week working from home.
Package
- Private Healthcare
- Competitive Pension
- Discretionary Bonus
- Staff Discount
- Car Lease Scheme
- Group Income Protection
- Life Assurance
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and birthday)
To apply, please send your comprehensive CV in strict confidence, quoting the reference above and for the attention of Jon Hemming-Nash. Please include current salary details within your application. Due to high response levels, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received a response within one week, regrettably your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Demand Planner employer: The People Co. / Supply Jobs
Contact Detail:
The People Co. / Supply Jobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Demand Planner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the FMCG sector, especially those in demand planning roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your analytical skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Real-life examples will make you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in your follow-ups! After interviews or networking events, drop a quick thank-you email. It keeps you on their radar and shows you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications come directly from candidates who are excited about joining us. Plus, it gives you a better chance of getting noticed by the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Demand Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Demand Planner role. Highlight your experience in demand planning, supply chain, and any relevant FMCG background. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong numerical and analytical skills, don’t shy away from showcasing your ability to interpret complex data. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've successfully tackled similar challenges.
Communicate Clearly: As a Demand Planner, you'll need to collaborate with various teams. Make sure your application reflects your communication skills. Use clear and concise language, and don't forget to mention any experience you have in cross-functional collaboration.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you’re considered for the role. Don’t forget to include your current salary details as requested!
How to prepare for a job interview at The People Co. / Supply Jobs
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Demand Planner, you'll need to showcase your strong numerical and analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics related to demand forecasting and inventory management. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles.
✨Understand the S&OP Process
Familiarise yourself with the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process. Be prepared to explain how you’ve contributed to or improved this process in previous positions. Highlight any experience you have with cross-functional collaboration, as this will be crucial in the role.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving capabilities. Think of specific examples where you've identified supply-demand imbalances and how you resolved them. This will demonstrate your solutions-driven mindset, which is essential for the role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Tools and Technology
Since the role involves using tools like Power BI and Slim4, make sure you’re comfortable discussing your experience with these or similar platforms. If you have advanced Excel skills, be prepared to share how you've used them to analyse data and improve forecasting accuracy.