Demand Planner (Cross Category)
Location: Hybrid working in Cambridgeshire (minimum 2/3 days on site)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Cross Category Demand Planner to join a fast-paced FMCG business. This is a highly collaborative role, responsible for strengthening the demand planning process across multiple product categories, customers and planning horizons.
Working as part of the Supply Chain function, you will play a key role in delivering accurate, reliable and insight-driven demand plans that support excellent customer service, efficient supply planning, inventory optimisation and waste reduction.
This is a varied position that combines forecasting expertise, data analysis, systems management and continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with Commercial, Supply Chain, Production Planning and Category teams to ensure robust demand planning processes are embedded across the business.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Planning & Forecasting
- Lead and support the end-to-end demand planning process across multiple product categories.
- Coordinate demand inputs including promotions, new product launches, delists, customer activity and seasonal trends.
- Develop accurate statistical and consensus forecasts using approved planning tools.
- Improve forecast accuracy while reducing forecast bias through data-led analysis.
- Provide planning support across categories as business priorities evolve.
Process Improvement
- Drive standardised demand planning processes, governance and reporting.
- Identify opportunities to simplify planning activities and improve efficiency.
- Support the implementation of best practice planning routines and system adoption.
- Coach colleagues on demand planning processes, reporting and planning tools.
Data & Systems
- Maintain forecasting system integrity, master data and planning assumptions.
- Analyse EPOS, sales trends, shipment data, seasonality and demand signals to improve forecasting accuracy.
- Investigate and resolve planning data issues to ensure robust forecasting outputs.
- Support continuous improvements in planning systems and reporting capability.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Commercial, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Category and Customer teams.
- Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes through meaningful analysis and recommendations.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure assumptions, risks and opportunities are captured within demand plans.
- Provide additional planning capacity and analytical support across multiple categories where required.
Performance Reporting
- Monitor and report forecast accuracy, forecast bias and demand volatility.
- Deliver meaningful insight and root cause analysis to improve business performance.
- Highlight risks and opportunities relating to inventory, service levels and customer demand.
- Recommend practical improvements based on planning performance trends.
About You
We’re looking for an analytical, commercially aware planner who thrives in a fast-moving environment and enjoys improving processes.
You’ll ideally have:
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Demand Planning, Forecasting or Supply Chain Planning within an FMCG or similarly fast-paced environment.
- Experience managing multiple product categories, customer portfolios or complex demand plans.
- Strong Excel skills together with experience of forecasting and planning systems.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Experience supporting process improvements, systems implementation or planning transformation projects would be advantageous.
What’s on Offer
- Hybrid working based in Cambridgeshire (minimum two/three days on site).
- A varied cross-category planning role with exposure across the wider business.
- The opportunity to influence planning processes and drive continuous improvement.
- A collaborative environment with opportunities to develop planning capability and make a real business impact.
If you’re an experienced Demand Planner looking for your next challenge within a dynamic supply chain environment, we’d love to hear from you.
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