Demand Planner

Demand Planner

Ampthill Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join us as a Demand Planner, shaping forecasts and collaborating with teams to drive success.
  • Company: United Wheels Inc. is a global leader in bicycles and e-bikes, with a rich history and innovative spirit.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, competitive pay, and opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team, make an impact, and develop your skills in a thriving industry.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in demand planning; experience with wheeled or battery-operated products is a plus.
  • Other info: This role offers potential for advancement as the company grows and evolves.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Overview Of The Company

  • United Wheels Inc. (“UWI”) is an international, privately held business, with affiliated companies and operations in Asia, the Americas and around the world. UWI is a world leader in the design, manufacture and international distribution of bicycles, e-bikes, and rideable toys, manufacturing more than 6 million bicycles and e-Bikes each year.

UWI owns and operates seeral bicycle-related subsidiaries. These subsidiaries include:

  • Huffy Corp. ( the iconic bicycling company based in Dayton, Ohio, with more than 125+ years of bicycling history.
  • Buzz Bicycles (
  • Batch Outdoors Inc. (
  • Niner Brands International Inc. (
  • VAAST Bicycles (

Summary

  • The UK/EMEA Demand Planner is responsible for the consensus demand plan within their scope and is accountable for the UWI demand plan for the UK/EMEA region. This role requires close collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management, including senior leaders, to align on an accurate and unbiased forecast. Plan quality is measured by accuracy, bias, and change frequency, with targets set collaboratively based on past performance and process maturity. As Demand Planning is still evolving, this role will need to balance improving systems and processes with delivering high-quality plans. Timely and accurate forecasts are essential for internal teams, suppliers, B2B customers, and riders. This position reports to the SIOP Leader in Dayton, OH USA, with future potential for advancement as the function matures and the company grows.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain the monthly consensus demand plan for assigned parts.
  • Review forecast accuracy and bias metrics; identify root causes and apply lessons learned.
  • Ensure accuracy of product lifecycle and other key planning master data.
  • Analyze historical data and apply basic statistical models to establish baseline forecasts.
  • Must demonstrate effective project management abilities, including setting timelines, managing resources, tracking progress, and ensuring project deliverables are completed on time and within scope.”
  • Lead Customer Demand Planning meetings to align forecasts with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management for the assigned region.
  • Research, generate and share business intelligence to communicate the demand plan to stakeholders.
  • Prepare and lead the monthly Demand Consensus Meeting, including data review and meeting facilitation.
  • Manage meeting documentation: agenda, minutes, and follow-up actions.
  • Participate in regional Sales and Operations Execution (S&OE) meetings with Supply Planning.
  • Provide demand analytics to support purchasing decisions and commitments.
  • Collaborate with Supply Planning to manage urgent lead time changes before system updates.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Continuous Improvement Projects

  • Serve as a key thought leader in standardizing and governing Plan-for-Every-Part master data.
  • Actively participate in Kaizen events focused on process improvement.
  • Supervisory Responsibilities
  • None at this time.
  • Education and Experience
  • 3+ years of demand planning experience required as a Demand planner for a 1M+ units per year annual sales volume
  • Experience with outdoor wheeled or battery-operated products is ideal, not required

Interpersonal And Professional Skills

  • Strong strategic and tactical communication with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset.
  • Exceptional data analysis skills
  • Excellent listening skills to fully understand stakeholder needs.
  • Basic root-cause problem-solving capabilities.
  • Change management and emotional intelligence to support organizational transitions.
  • Effective project management abilities, including setting timelines, managing resources, tracking progress, and ensuring project deliverables are completed on time and within scope

Competencies

  • Customer Focus – Aims to satisfy all customers while maintaining effective relationships, both internal and external. Maximizes those relationships to improve personal, department, and organizational performance. Holds co-workers and customers to a similar standard.
  • Energy – Have a tremendous amount of energy and passion for our people, products, and brands. Approaches each date willing to take on the day’s challenges. Operating at their individual peak performance without encouragement.
  • Energize – Energize teams with enthusiasm and excitement without intimidating them. Projects a positive mental attitude and can-do spirit, who lifts up members of his / her team. Does not get discouraged by setbacks.
  • Edge – Have a competitive edge and an overwhelming desire to win. Hates losing and will give 100% commitment to achieving or exceeding their plan. Willing to make difficult decisions, when called upon.
  • Execution – Action and performance oriented and are focused on attaining results. A team player who is reliable and follows through on tasks to completion. Attention to details.
  • Increases Company Value – Strives to increase sales, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and maximize profits to increase the value of the Company.
  • Innovative / Continuous Improvement – Committed to improving processes, products, services, and a willingness to embrace change for the benefit of our team, department, organization, and shareholders.
  • Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Elevating challenges in order to collaborate with co-workers, SLT, ELT, and the Board.

Language Skills

  • Able to read, analyze, and interpret standard supply chain reports and dashboards.
  • Capable of responding to sensitive inquiries and presenting complex or controversial topics effectively to senior leadership.

Mathematical Skills
Proficient in applying fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to real-world scenarios.
Reasoning Ability
Skilled in problem definition, data collection, and drawing valid conclusions.
Able to interpret technical instructions in various formats and manage both abstract and concrete variables.
Computer Skills

  • Excel (Intermediate): Pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, standard deviation, basic forecasting formulas.
  • PowerPoint (Basic): Creating and editing presentations.
  • Experience with ERP systems, preferably JDE Enterprise One.
  • Familiar with Business Intelligence tools for reports and dashboards.
  • Experience with Advanced and/or Demand Planning systems is a plus.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
None Required.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Demand Planner employer: United Wheels Inc.

United Wheels Inc. is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, particularly for the Demand Planner role in the UK/EMEA region. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth within a globally recognised company, while also enjoying a supportive environment that values innovation and continuous improvement. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on delivering high-quality results, UWI stands out as a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in the bicycle and e-bike industry.
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Contact Detail:

United Wheels Inc. Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Demand Planner

Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the bicycle and e-bike industry, especially focusing on trends and challenges. Understanding the market dynamics will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.

Tip Number 2

Brush up on your data analysis skills, particularly in Excel. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency with pivot tables and forecasting formulas can set you apart from other candidates.

Tip Number 3

Network with professionals in demand planning or the cycling industry. Attend relevant events or join online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even referrals for the role.

Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your project management experience in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed timelines and resources in previous roles.

We think you need these skills to ace Demand Planner

Demand Planning
Forecasting Techniques
Data Analysis
Statistical Modelling
Project Management
Communication Skills
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams
Root Cause Analysis
Change Management
Customer Focus
Attention to Detail
ERP Systems Knowledge
Business Intelligence Tools
Problem-Solving Skills
Meeting Facilitation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in demand planning, especially if you have worked with outdoor wheeled or battery-operated products. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in data analysis and project management.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention how your background aligns with UWI's mission and values, and provide examples of how you've successfully managed demand planning processes in the past.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong data analysis skills, include specific instances where you've used data to drive decisions or improve processes. Highlight any experience with Excel, ERP systems, or Business Intelligence tools.

Prepare for Potential Questions: Think about how you would answer questions related to demand forecasting, collaboration with sales and marketing teams, and handling change management. Be ready to discuss your problem-solving approach and how you've contributed to continuous improvement in previous roles.

How to prepare for a job interview at United Wheels Inc.

Understand the Demand Planning Process

Familiarise yourself with the demand planning process, especially how it relates to the bicycle and e-bike industry. Be prepared to discuss your experience in developing consensus demand plans and how you ensure accuracy in forecasts.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Highlight your data analysis capabilities during the interview. Be ready to provide examples of how you've used statistical models to improve forecast accuracy and how you've tackled root causes of inaccuracies in past roles.

Demonstrate Effective Communication

Since this role requires collaboration with various teams, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully led meetings or facilitated discussions to align forecasts with stakeholders.

Emphasise Continuous Improvement

Talk about your commitment to continuous improvement and how you've contributed to process enhancements in previous positions. Share specific examples of Kaizen events or similar initiatives you've participated in.

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