Demand Manager
hace 15 horas
Manchester
Job Title: Demand Manager Reports to: Supply Chain Director Purpose of Role Our client is a rapidly growing performance-nutrition brand with ambitious growth targets across retail, e-commerce, and export channels. Having scaled quickly, the business now needs greater structure and visibility across sales, supply chain, and planning. The Demand Manager will take ownership of building and leading the first formal demand planning and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process. Working closely with the Supply Chain Director and collaborating with Sales, Marketing, NPD, and Finance, this person will create an accurate, data-driven demand plan for approximately 150 SKUs that underpins operational excellence, improved service, working-capital control, and business decision-making. This is a hands-on, analytical, and technically skilled role - ideal for someone who can thrive in a fast-paced, founder-led environment, introduce structure and discipline from the ground up, and influence senior stakeholders to adopt best practice. At present, our client has no formal ERP or forecasting tools, so the successful candidate must be capable of designing and maintaining robust forecasting models, databases, and dashboards in Excel (or similar tools) until system capability is implemented in approximately 12 months. Although a standalone position, this is a business-critical role accountable for the accuracy and credibility of our client's demand plan and its translation into profitable growth. Key Responsibilities 1. Establish and Lead the Demand Planning Process • Design and implement our clients' first structured forecasting and demand planning process from scratch., • Create Excel-based forecasting models, data templates, and reporting dashboards to support planning in the absence of ERP functionality., • Define clear roles, responsibilities, and calendars for forecast generation, review, and approval., • Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation for the end-to-end process., • Support the future implementation and integration of advanced forecasting tools and ERP (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central). 2. Build the Baseline Forecast • Analyse historical sales, customer, and product data to build statistical and trend-based forecasts using advanced Excel modelling., • Identify key demand drivers - seasonality, promotions, NPD, customer trends - and quantify their impact., • Produce rolling 12-month forecasts at SKU, customer, channel, and category level for use in S&OP., • Provide detailed variance analysis versus prior forecasts, budgets, and actual performance. 3. Integrate Market and Commercial Insight • Partner with Sales and Marketing to incorporate market intelligence, promotions, and account plans., • Work with NPD to build realistic launch forecasts and track post-launch performance., • Ensure assumptions are transparent, documented, and reflected in the consolidated demand plan., • Support key account reviews by providing demand and performance insight. 4. Facilitate the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Cycle • Prepare, lead, and document monthly demand review meetings., • Present consolidated forecasts, risks, and opportunities to the Supply Chain Director and Board., • Build cross-functional consensus on a single, agreed demand plan each cycle., • Translate the demand plan into actionable signals for production, inventory, and procurement. 5. Measure and Continuously Improve Forecast Accuracy • Define and report forecast accuracy metrics (WMAPE, bias, OTIF, and inventory impact)., • Conduct root-cause analysis on major forecast variances and drive corrective actions., • Maintain a repository of demand data and post-event analyses to improve predictability., • Continuously refine Excel models and process flows to improve accuracy and efficiency. 6. Support Broader Business Insight and Planning • Provide visibility on sales trends, promotional ROI, and customer/channel performance., • Support budgeting, financial forecasting, and strategic planning cycles., • Provide input to inventory, capacity, and supply planning to ensure alignment with demand. Performance Measures & KPIs • Forecast Accuracy (WMAPE), • Forecast Bias, • OTIF (On-Time In-Full) Service Level, • Inventory Days, • Slow & Obsolete Stock, • Adherence to S&OP Calendar and Deadlines Skills & Personal Attributes • Expert-level Excel capability (pivot tables, nested lookups, Power Query, macros, scenario modelling, statistical forecasting)., • Highly analytical, data-driven, and numerate., • Strong systems thinker with the ability to design and automate tools independently., • Confident communicator able to challenge and influence Sales, Marketing, and Operations., • Strong presentation skills - comfortable engaging at Board level., • Structured, organised, and detail-oriented with a drive for continuous improvement., • Hands-on, pragmatic, and adaptable - able to build structure without bureaucracy., • Commercially aware, linking demand decisions directly to financial and operational outcomes. Experience & Qualifications • Minimum 3 years’ experience in a demand planning or forecasting role within FMCG (food, drink, or nutrition preferred)., • Demonstrated experience building forecasting tools or processes from the ground up., • Strong understanding of supply chain, production, and inventory planning principles., • APICS / IBF or equivalent qualification preferred (not essential)., • Advanced Excel proficiency essential - ability to create dynamic forecasting and reporting tools without system dependency., • Experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Business Central advantageous) and forecasting software highly desirable. Summary This is a rare opportunity to join our client at a pivotal stage in its growth journey - shaping the company’s first formal planning infrastructure and data-driven culture. The successful candidate will make a visible impact on service, cost, and working-capital performance and play a defining role in the next phase of operational and commercial scale.