Demand Planner

About the Role

We are seeking a Demand Planner to join a rapidly expanding toy industry business supplying across the UK and major European markets. As the company scales, it is enhancing its planning frameworks with a focus on data-driven strategies and collaborative approaches to support ambitious growth.

Currently implementing a formal Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, this role offers an exciting chance to shape forecasting and planning operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and uphold demand forecasts for the GSA and Benelux markets, aligning commercial goals with operational needs.
• Convert sales targets and retail objectives into detailed volume forecasts supporting supply chain, procurement, and commercial teams.
• Analyse historical data, aid new product launch planning, and improve forecast accuracy through tracking KPIs and investigating deviations.
• Document and refine forecasting procedures to establish a reliable single source of truth as S&OP capabilities evolve.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Procurement to challenge assumptions, identify risks/opportunities, and align demand plans with inventory and lead time requirements.
• Present insights to stakeholders by translating complex data into understandable, actionable recommendations for improved decision-making.

Candidate Profile

• 2–3 years minimum experience in a dedicated demand planning position.
• Strong analytical skills combined with commercial awareness, adept at turning high-level sales ambitions into actionable, data-driven plans.
• Proficient with planning software such as SAP, Oracle, or similar, alongside advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills.
• Experience creating dashboards with Power BI, Tableau, or QuickSight is a strong advantage.
• Exposure to S&OP environments is preferred.
• Experience in the toy sector or other highly seasonal or trend-sensitive industries is beneficial.
• Knowledge of demand planning across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary up to £50,000 per year plus discretionary annual bonus.
• 33 days of paid holiday annually.
• Private pension scheme.
• Role based in Central London with hybrid working: up to two days working from home for London residents, three days for those living outside the London area.