At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and improve demand planning for licensed sportswear, collaborating with various teams.
- Company: Join Zelus, Nike's exclusive global licensee, in a creative and passionate environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and strong professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive culture celebrating diversity; support available during recruitment.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the sportswear industry while working with a globally recognised brand.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in demand planning, advanced Excel skills, and a data-driven mindset.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
About Zelus
Zelus is Nike Inc.’s exclusive global licensee for teamwear apparel and equipment, serving athletes and teams from grassroots to elite level across football, rugby, basketball, athletics, hockey, and more. Based in Hilversum, we bring together creative, passionate people to deliver high‑quality product for teams around the world — with a Swoosh on every kit.
The role
We are looking for a commercially minded and analytically strong Demand Planner to join our Planning function within the Finance team. This is a high‑impact role responsible for owning and continually improving the end-to-end demand planning process across our Licenced category. This role is based in our Altrincham office, with a hybrid working pattern of three days in the office (Monday to Wednesday) and two days working remotely (Thursday and Friday). Occasional travel to our Netherlands office will be required (around 1-2 trips per quarter).
What you’ll do
- Demand Planning & Forecasting: Owning rolling plans across multiple seasons simultaneously for long, mid and short range forecasts. Forecasting demand at the SKU level, collaborating with Commercial, Financial and Product teams. Ensuring accuracy through the forecasting process then feeding this into making buying decisions considering factory minimums. Partnering with various teams to incorporate qualitative inputs into quantitative forecasting models. E.g. partner growth assumptions and upcoming projects. Embedding frameworks to incorporate market trend analysis and market-specific considerations (e.g. size curve variances) into forecasting models.
- Orderbook Reviews: Driving increased sales through proactive analysis of orderbooks, using the review tool. Ensuring production surcharges are mitigated through MOQ management. Completion of analysis versus short range forecast and historic trends to propose orderbook growth improvements. Managing regular cross-functional committees to ensure alignment of expectations ahead of every Order Entry Window (OEW) and reviewing performance post-OEW closure. Developing orderbook analysis and communicating achievements and KPIs to senior leadership and relevant stakeholders, including quick adoption of new tooling (e.g. ATLAS).
- Licensed Stock Initiatives Management: Managing free-to-selling Licensed stock to ensure sales are maximized by selling through most profitable avenues and periods in the season. Providing visibility and tracking of Licensed stock movements across warehouses and post embellishment facilities, including ownership of quarterly stock clearance plans with Commercial and management of relevant licensed projects from forecast to fulfilment.
- Key Business Partner: Being the key point of contact to the various commercial facing teams. Collaborating with supply chain to brief forecasts and understand MOQs and factory processes.
What you’ll bring
- Advanced Excel and data analysis capability
- Minimum of 2 years experience in demand planning or sports merchandising
- Experience within apparel, desired but not critical
- Experience in a fast‑paced and dynamic business environment.
- Strong commercial understanding with ability to communicate analytical insights to various levels of stakeholders.
- A data‑driven mindset with an eye for quality – able to identify errors at source, maintain data hygiene standards, and present insights with rigour and clarity.
Why join Zelus?
At Zelus, you’ll have the opportunity to lead with impact, work closely with a globally recognised sports brand partner, and help shape how teamwear product comes to life for athletes worldwide. We offer a collaborative, inclusive culture, strong benefits, and real opportunities for professional growth. Zelus is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all its forms. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.
Demand Planner – Licenced Sportswear in Altrincham employer: Zelus Sport
Zelus is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment in Altrincham, where creativity and passion thrive. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees benefit from a collaborative culture and the opportunity to work closely with a globally recognised sports brand, all while enjoying a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the world of teamwear apparel and equipment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Demand Planner – Licenced Sportswear in Altrincham
✨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 Zelus Sport, 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 Demand Planner – Licenced Sportswear.
We think you need these skills to ace Demand Planner – Licenced Sportswear in Altrincham
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 Zelus Sport. 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 Zelus Sport 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 Zelus Sport
✨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 Zelus Sport.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Zelus Sport
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Zelus Sport 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!
