McVitie's - Demand Planner

Job Description:

The Demand Planner will be responsible for driving accurate demand forecasting and ensuring optimal product availability across regions. In a fast-paced biscuit category with high SKU complexity and distribution spread, the role will focus on aligning sales inputs, market intelligence, and historical trends to improve forecast accuracy and inventory efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Demand Forecasting & Planning:

- Develop SKU-wise, region-wise demand forecasts using historical sales data, seasonality, and market trends

- Incorporate inputs from Sales, Marketing, and Trade Marketing for promotions, schemes, and launches

- Manage short-term, mid-term, and long-term demand plans

2. S&OP / Demand Alignment:

- Drive monthly demand review as part of S&OP process

- Align forecasts with business targets and ground realities (distributor stocking, secondary sales)

- Coordinate closely with Sales teams to capture real-time market changes

3. Inventory & Service Level Management:

- Ensure optimal stock availability across depots/warehouses

- Minimize stock-outs, overstocks, expiry, and obsolescence

- Support supply planning team with actionable demand inputs

4. Analytics & Reporting:

- Track forecast accuracy, bias, and key KPIs

- Analyze primary vs secondary sales trends

- Identify demand patterns, growth opportunities, and risks

5. Cross-functional Coordination:

- Work closely with Sales, Production, Logistics, and Finance teams

- Support new product launches and promotional planning

- Ensure smooth transition of plans into execution