At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global demand planning and inventory strategy across multiple regions.
- Company: Join a globally recognised brand in premium interior design.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Opportunity for genuine ownership and long-term career progression.
- Why this job: Shape the future of demand planning and influence key business decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in demand planning or supply chain roles with strong analytical skills.
We're partnering with a globally recognised brand within the premium interior design industry to recruit a Head of Demand Planning. Renowned for quality, innovation and exceptional product design, the business supplies customers across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia and continues to experience strong international growth.
This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of the global demand planning function within a complex, multi-region business. Whether you're already operating at Head of level or you're an experienced Demand Planner, Supply Chain Planner or Procurement professional looking for your next step, this role offers genuine autonomy, strategic influence and the opportunity to shape the future direction of the planning function.
The Role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, you'll own the end-to-end demand planning and inventory strategy across multiple international markets, ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time to support commercial performance. Leading the monthly S&OP process, you'll work closely with Sales, Purchasing, Finance and New Product Development to improve forecast accuracy, optimise inventory and support commercial decision-making. This is a highly analytical role that requires someone who can interpret complex data, understand the bigger picture and confidently influence stakeholders across the business. You'll provide strategic direction to a small, autonomous team, ensuring planning activities align with business objectives while driving continuous improvement across processes, systems and reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and lead the end-to-end monthly S&OP process
- Develop demand forecasts and inventory plans across multiple international regions and sales channels
- Ensure inventory availability supports sales while balancing service levels and working capital
- Produce forecasting, inventory and performance reporting for senior stakeholders
- Analyse inventory risk, forecast accuracy and stock performance to support commercial decision-making
- Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce inventory risk and enhance planning performance
- Partner with Sales, Purchasing, Finance and NPD to support business growth
- Provide strategic leadership and direction to the demand planning team
- Drive continuous improvement across planning systems, reporting and processes
About You
You'll have proven experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, S&OP or a planning-focused procurement role within a product-based business where forecasting and inventory planning are business critical. You'll be commercially minded, highly analytical and comfortable planning across complex supply chains, ideally spanning multiple distribution centres or international markets. More importantly, you'll be able to see beyond the data, identifying opportunities to improve service, optimise inventory and positively impact business performance.
We're particularly interested in candidates who bring:
- Experience within a manufacturing, distribution, retail or product-led environment
- Strong demand planning, inventory planning or S&OP experience
- Advanced Excel skills and experience working with ERP or demand planning systems
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
- A strategic mindset with strong commercial awareness
- Experience planning across multiple regions, channels or distribution centres
Exposure to retail, merchandising, interiors, homewares or other complex product-based environments would be advantageous, as would experience with dedicated demand planning software such as Slim4 or data visualisation tools including Power BI.
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful international brand in a role offering genuine ownership, strategic influence and long-term career progression. You'll have the autonomy to shape the planning function, influence business decisions and play a key role in supporting the company's continued international growth. The role offers hybrid working, an excellent benefits package and the opportunity to make a real impact within a collaborative and forward-thinking business.
Head of Demand Planning employer: Zero Surplus
Join a globally recognised brand in the premium interior design industry, where you will have the opportunity to lead the demand planning function and make a significant impact on international growth. With a strong focus on employee development, a collaborative work culture, and the flexibility of hybrid working, this role offers not only competitive compensation but also a chance to shape strategic decisions within a forward-thinking team. Experience genuine autonomy and career progression while working in a dynamic environment that values innovation and quality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Demand Planning
✨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 Zero Surplus, 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 Head of Demand Planning.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Demand Planning
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 Zero Surplus. 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 Zero Surplus 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 Zero Surplus
✨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 Zero Surplus.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Zero Surplus
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Zero Surplus 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!
