At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead forecasting strategy and leverage AI for innovative supply chain management.
- Company: Join Wild, a fast-growing start-up on a mission to eliminate single-use plastics.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, hybrid working, private healthcare, and free breakfast.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sustainability while using cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 4-6 years in retail demand planning with strong data analysis skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
About Us: We’re Wild. We’re on a mission to remove single-use plastic from the bathroom, armed with our refillable, natural and scent-sational deodorants, body wash, and lip balm. We launched in 2020 and as a high-growth company, we’re already one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-ups.
The Mission: Wild is scaling at a pace that renders traditional spreadsheets obsolete. We are looking for a forward-thinking Demand Planner to lead our forecasting strategy and bridge the gap between traditional S&OP and the future of AI-driven supply chain management. You will own the global demand signal across DTC and Retail channels, leveraging machine learning and automation to turn complex data into commercial gold. This role reports into our Head of Supply Chain. Please note, this is a mid-level role at the Senior Manager level which targets candidates with 4-6 years of experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Forecasting & SOP Excellence
- Cycle Ownership: Own and coordinate the full monthly S&OP cycle, leading forecasting sessions, forecast accuracy reviews, and bottom-up/top-down reconciliation against the business plan.
- Global Inputs: Own DTC and retail global forecast inputs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and commercial alignment across all territories.
- Retail Intelligence: Translate account management EPOS data and buyer insights into precise operational order forecasts for retail customers.
- Financial Alignment: Manage bottom-up consensus and reconcile against top-down financial targets, articulating gaps, risks, and volume-value opportunities to the leadership team.
- Advanced Quant, Reporting & AI
- Technical Interrogation: Interrogate large and complex datasets confidently, identifying specific metrics and outliers that move the dial.
- AI Tool Building: Build and continuously improve demand planning reporting using AI and automation tools to surface trends, anomalies, and actionable insights.
- Eradicate Manual Work: Build AI agents or automated workflows to eliminate repetitive manual data entry.
- Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements in forecast accuracy and bias measurement, embedding a culture of quantitative rigor and relentless iteration across the team.
- Stock Risk & Supply Alignment
- Proactive Management: Actively manage stock risks across the portfolio, flagging sudden demand changes to the Supply Planning team.
- Risk & Opportunities: Monitor stock cover, aged stock, and write-off risk, owning the Risk and Opportunities register and driving resolution through cross-functional workstreams.
- Lifecycle Transitions: Support range review processes to ensure clean transitions between old and new SKUs with no gaps or overlapping demand signals.
- People & Stakeholder Management
- Team Leadership: Manage the Demand Planning Team day-to-day by setting priorities, reviewing outputs, and developing their technical and commercial capability.
- Influencing without Authority: Act as a strong cross-functional collaborator with Commercial, Finance, and Supply Planning.
- Strategic Communication: Communicate complex planning challenges clearly and concisely to senior stakeholders, focusing on making recommendations rather than just presenting problems.
What we need from you:
- Core Experience: A strong retail demand planning background with proven experience translating EPOS and account-level forecasts into operational plans.
- The Quant Mindset: A demonstrable ability to manipulate and interrogate large datasets using tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, or BI platforms.
- SOP Expertise: Experience coordinating S&OP or IBP cycles in a fast-paced consumer goods environment.
- AI & Automation: Hands-on experience using AI or automation tools to improve reporting speed, accuracy, or insight generation.
- High Agency: You don’t wait for a manual; you see a mess and build a tool or process to clean it up.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesise complex data into clear narratives for senior audiences.
- Leadership: Experience managing or mentoring junior team members and a proven ability to thrive in an ambiguous, high-growth environment.
- FMCG/D2C Interest: You love the idea of using cutting-edge AI to help a physical, sustainable product reach more bathrooms globally.
What you’ll get from us:
- 25 days holidays + bank holidays + 9 extra remote working days
- Hybrid working, 3 days a week in our shiny new London office
- 4% Company Pension
- Mental well-being support through Spill
- Private healthcare through Vitality
- Weekly early finishes and social events
- Annual L&D budget
- Free breakfast
- Free & discounted Wild products
- 2 x team volunteering days and 2 x personal volunteering days
Ready to become a Wild thing? At Wild, we know that diversity drives innovation and creativity. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to bring their most authentic selves to work. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply!
Senior Demand Planner employer: Wild
At Wild, we are not just a high-growth start-up; we are a community dedicated to sustainability and innovation. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, offering employees the chance to grow through continuous learning and development opportunities. With a commitment to diversity and well-being, our London office provides a supportive environment where you can thrive while making a meaningful impact on reducing single-use plastics.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Demand Planner
✨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 Wild, 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 Senior Demand Planner.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Demand Planner
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 Wild. 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 Wild 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 Wild
✨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 Wild.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Wild
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Wild 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!
