In this role, you’ll support the Demand Management team across larger and more complex customer accounts, while taking ownership of the day-to-day forecasting and stock planning for a small portfolio of assigned accounts. Working closely with Sales and Operations, you’ll help maintain accurate forecasts, monitor stock availability and track performance to support commercial opportunities, maximise sell-through, meet stock targets and deliver a high standard of customer service.
Key tasks will include:
- Support the Demand Management team to build and maintain demand forecasts for a defined portfolio (customers/SKUs/categories) in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
- Own day-to-day forecasting for a small group of accounts, keeping plans up to date and tracking performance with support from senior team members.
- Gather and maintain key forecast inputs (historical sales, promotions, seasonality and customer insight) and ensure data accuracy across planning tools and spreadsheets.
- Analyse sales and forecast data to identify trends, risks and opportunities; escalate issues with clear supporting data.
- Support forecast review cycles by preparing files, updating assumptions and maintaining clear audit trails.
- Plan and monitor stock requirements, availability and stock cover for assigned accounts, aligning with supplier lead times, inbound deliveries and promotional activity.
- Maintain regular reporting on forecast accuracy, sales performance and stock position.
- Work closely with Sales/Account teams to ensure forecasts reflect promotions, launches and range changes.
- Communicate stock updates, delivery timings and any risks to relevant stakeholders in a timely, professional manner.
- Build effective relationships with internal teams (sales, warehouse, logistics and supply planning) to support smooth execution.
- Provide administrative support across demand planning and order management processes.
- Contribute ideas to improve planning processes, efficiency and forecast accuracy.
- Support the team to meet deadlines and service level targets (availability and OTIF) and prepare analysis for meetings (e.g Trading reviews).
Key skills & experience required:
- Previous experience in demand planning, merchandising, supply chain, forecasting, stock control or a similar planning role within FMCG, manufacturing or wholesale would be advantageous.
- Strong Excel skills, ideally at intermediate to advanced level, including formulae, VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables.
- Good analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and use it to support action.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and work to deadlines.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
- Strong communication skills, with the confidence to work cross-functionally and deal professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
- Numerate, detail-focused and accurate under pressure.
- Proactive, resilient and able to use initiative.
- Flexible team player with a positive, can-do approach.
- Customer-focused, with a professional approach and the confidence to represent the company well.
- Previous experience of OrdersWise, Sage 200 or similar systems would be highly advantageous.
- Experience of working with reporting tools and complex datasets would be beneficial.
- Experience of working with key retailers and/or eCommerce platforms would be beneficial.
- Full UK driving licence preferred.
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