Demand Planner

Role Overview:

The Key Accounts Support & Sales Demand Planner is a critical interface between the business and key customers, ensuring end-to-end coordination of demand planning, commercialization, and sales support processes.

This role serves as the first point of contact for key accounts and is responsible for aligning internal teams with Customer needs to enable successful product launches and ongoing Supply chain excellence in the delivery of food service products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Customer Engagement & Commercialisation
• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned key accounts, managing all communications related to Supply chain, commercialisations, demand planning.
• Support and coordinate the commercialisation process for new product launches and range extensions, ensuring alignment across internal stakeholders and external partners also in liaison with the Customer as needed.

Demand Planning & S&OP

• Own and manage the demand planning process for key customers, attend meetings with Customers and the Sales team, whilst ensuring accurate forecasts are maintained and regularly reviewed and translated into accurate demand plans and adjusted as needed.
• Liaise directly with Customers on Sales, forecasts, promotional plans, and demand fluctuations to maintain high service levels.
• Participate and provide data for the weekly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings both internally and with the customer, ensuring cross-functional alignment on forecast, supply, inventory, and capacity.
• Work closely with Production planning teams, Site teams, and Customer service & Logistics to translate demand signals into production and supply plans, achieving OTIF targets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Interface daily with Commercial teams, CD&D, production sites, CSL support reps (Walden, Stoke, Hereford), and 3PL & operations to ensure execution of agreed plans.
• Partner with the Packaging & Procurement and Imports/Exports teams to align supply chain activities
• Work with CD&D/Technical teams to ensure accurate data flow and product information during launches and ongoing supply.

Continuous Improvement & Reporting

• Monitor service performance, OTIF, stock levels, forecast accuracy, and order fulfilment KPIs for key customers.
• Identify and resolve supply issues in real time, escalating when required to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the demand planning and customer support processes.

Key Skills and Attributes:

• Strong understanding of Supply chain principles, especially demand planning and S&OP, Customer service and Logistics.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Highly organised with strong coordination capabilities
• Analytical mindset in particular with attention to forecasting/demand plan accuracy and issue resolution
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and resilient in a fast-paced environment

Experience & Qualifications:

• A number of years of experience in a Supply chain, demand planning, or key account coordination role (preferably within FMCG or foodservice sector)
• Familiarity with commercialisation processes and product lifecycle management
• Proficiency in planning software (e.g., SAP, Navision, D365, Excel, forecasting tools)
• Degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred