Description:
Our leading FMCG client whose headquarters are based in the UK, with offices, both in manufacturing, and distribution facilities located in South Africa, the USA, and Spain is looking for a Senior Demand Planner to join their team.
This role is a key function within the Operations team, working closely with the Commercial, Finance, and internal Operations teams. The role will feed into the local and global Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) process. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, can build strong working relationships, and have a genuine proactive and 'can do' attitude. The role offers a variety of responsibilities beyond the core duties.
Key Responsibilities
1. Demand Forecasting:
- Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts using historical sales data, market trends, and business insights.
- Utilise statistical tools and software to create short-term and long-term demand projections.
- Continuously update forecasts based on real-time sales data, market conditions, and promotional activities.
2. Inventory Management:
- Monitor inventory levels and turnover rates.
- Implement strategies to optimize inventory turnover and reduce holding costs.
- Collaborate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure proper inventory management.
3. Collaboration:
- Work closely with sales, marketing, and finance teams to understand demand drivers and promotional activities.
- Communicate demand forecasts and supply plans to procurement, production, and logistics teams.
- Collaborate directly with key retailers and build relationships at the planner level (alongside sales).
- Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings to ensure alignment between demand and supply.
5. Reporting & Analysis
- Lead and utilise portals to pull forecasts and POS sales reports
- Prepare regular reports on forecast accuracy, supply performance, and inventory status.
- Develop a goal to hit best forecast accuracy (3-5% variance)
- Analyse data to identify areas for improvement in demand and supply planning processes.
6. Continuous Improvement:
- Stay updated on industry best practices, new forecasting techniques, and supply chain trends.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Train and mentor junior team members on demand and supply planning methods and tools.
Your Areas of Knowledge and Expertise:
- Proven experience in a planning or analyst role.
- Highly analytical with a high level of proficiency in the use of Excel.
- ERP and forecasting system experience
- Excellent communication, presentation, relationship building, and influencing skills with the ability to run highly effective meetings.
- Flexible, hardworking, and willing to get involved in projects and support the team as needed.
- FMCG experience is desirable
- Strong Retail experience
Requirements:
Our leading FMCG client whose headquarters are based in the UK, with offices, both in manufacturing, and distribution facilities located in South Africa, the USA, and Spain is looking for a Senior Demand Planner to join their team.
This role is a key function within the Operations team, working closely with the Commercial, Finance, and internal Operations teams. The role will feed into the local and global Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) process. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, can build strong working relationships, and have a genuine proactive and 'can do' attitude. The role offers a variety of responsibilities beyond the core duties.
Key Responsibilities
1. Demand Forecasting:
- Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts using historical sales data, market trends, and business insights.
- Utilise statistical tools and software to create short-term and long-term demand projections.
- Continuously update forecasts based on real-time sales data, market conditions, and promotional activities.
2. Inventory Management:
- Monitor inventory levels and turnover rates.
- Implement strategies to optimize inventory turnover and reduce holding costs.
- Collaborate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure proper inventory management.
3. Collaboration:
- Work closely with sales, marketing, and finance teams to understand demand drivers and promotional activities.
- Communicate demand forecasts and supply plans to procurement, production, and logistics teams.
- Collaborate directly with key retailers and build relationships at the planner level (alongside sales).
- Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings to ensure alignment between demand and supply.
5. Reporting & Analysis
- Lead and utilise portals to pull forecasts and POS sales reports
- Prepare regular reports on forecast accuracy, supply performance, and inventory status.
- Develop a goal to hit best forecast accuracy (3-5% variance)
- Analyse data to identify areas for improvement in demand and supply planning processes.
6. Continuous Improvement:
- Stay updated on industry best practices, new forecasting techniques, and supply chain trends.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Train and mentor junior team members on demand and supply planning methods and tools.
Your Areas of Knowledge and Expertise:
- Proven experience in a planning or analyst role.
- Highly analytical with a high level of proficiency in the use of Excel.
- ERP and forecasting system experience
- Excellent communication, presentation, relationship building, and influencing skills with the ability to run highly effective meetings.
- Flexible, hardworking, and willing to get involved in projects and support the team as needed.
- FMCG experience is desirable
- Strong Retail experience
- Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts using historical sales data, market trends, and business insights.
- Utilise statistical tools and software to create short-term and long-term demand projections.
- Continuously update forecasts based on real-time sales data, market conditions, and promotional activities.
- Monitor inventory levels and turnover rates.
- Implement strategies to optimize inventory turnover and reduce holding costs.
- Collaborate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure proper inventory management.
- Work closely with sales, marketing, and finance teams to understand demand drivers and promotional activities.
- Communicate demand forecasts and supply plans to procurement, production, and logistics teams.
- Collaborate directly with key retailers and build relationships at the planner level (alongside sales).
- Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings to ensure alignment between demand and supply.
- Lead and utilise portals to pull forecasts and POS sales reports
- Prepare regular reports on forecast accuracy, supply performance, and inventory status.
- Develop a goal to hit best forecast accuracy (3-5% variance)
- Analyse data to identify areas for improvement in demand and supply planning processes.
- Stay updated on industry best practices, new forecasting techniques, and supply chain trends.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Train and mentor junior team members on demand and supply planning methods and tools.
- Proven experience in a planning or analyst role.
- Highly analytical with a high level of proficiency in the use of Excel.
- ERP and forecasting system experience
- Excellent communication, presentation, relationship building, and influencing skills with the ability to run highly effective meetings.
- Flexible, hardworking, and willing to get involved in projects and support the team as needed.
- FMCG experience is desirable
- Strong Retail experience