Job Description:

About the Job:

Role: Demand Planning Manager
Sector: FMCG / In House Logistics
Location: Walsall, West Midlands
Working Pattern: Hybrid - 3 Days Office / 2 Days Home
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum + Up to 20% Annual Bonus
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

About the role:

Loom Talent are proud to have been retained by a repeat client, who are rapidly expanding. As a result, are seeking a Demand Planning Manager to join their Supply Chain team.

Reporting into the Head of Supply Chain, the Demand Planning Manager will be responsible for leading a team of 10-15 colleagues, including two Team Leaders, ensuring the delivery of accurate forecasts, exceptional stock availability and effective inventory management across the network.

This is a highly visible leadership role that extends beyond forecasting. You will work closely with Commercial, Category, Supply Chain, Operations and Supplier partners to influence business strategy, optimise stock investment and drive continuous improvement across planning processes.

The successful candidate will combine strong people leadership with analytical expertise, ensuring the Demand Planning team delivers against key business objectives while supporting wider supply chain performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Demand Planning team of 10-15 colleagues, including two Team Leaders.
• Own the end-to-end demand planning and forecasting process across the business.
• Drive improvements in forecast accuracy, product availability and inventory performance.
• Work collaboratively with Commercial and Category teams to incorporate promotional activity, seasonal events, new product launches and market trends into demand plans.
• Ensure optimum stock levels are maintained while balancing working capital, waste and customer service objectives.
• Support the development and execution of the wider Supply Chain strategy.
• Analyse demand trends, risks and opportunities, providing actionable insights to senior stakeholders.
• Lead regular demand review meetings and contribute to Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators relating to forecast accuracy, availability and inventory health.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes, systems and ways of working.
• Partner with Supply Planning, Procurement, Logistics and Operations teams to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and operational capabilities.
• Champion planning best practice and support the ongoing optimisation of forecasting tools and technology.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support collaborative planning and improved business performance.

About You:

The successful candidate for the role of Demand Planning Manager will be a strategic and engaging leader who can influence across multiple functions and bring a proactive approach to forecasting and supply chain optimisation.

Essential Skills & Experience for the for the role of Demand Planning Manager:

• Proven experience within Demand Planning, Forecasting, Supply Chain Planning or Inventory Management.
• Previous experience leading and developing teams within a fast-paced FMCG, Retail, Wholesale or Distribution environment.
• Experience in a Logistics Distribution and Supply Chain environment.
• Strong understanding of forecasting methodologies, stock management and supply chain principles.
• Experience driving improvements in stock availability, forecast accuracy and inventory performance.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience using planning systems and data to drive operational and commercial performance.
• Ability to translate complex data into meaningful business insights and recommendations.
• Be commutable to the Walsall area 3+ Days per week.

Desirable

• Experience of RELEX or similar forecasting and planning systems.
• Exposure to Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Experience leading change and continuous improvement initiatives within supply chain functions.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established and growing business where you can make a genuine impact on supply chain performance and customer satisfaction.

Package:

• Competitive salary of £45,000 - £50,000
• Annual performance bonus of up to 20%
• Hybrid working - 3 days in the office, 2 days from home
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual leave entitlement increases with length of service
• Company pension scheme
• Employee discount and colleague benefits platform
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Career progression within a successful and growing organisation

If you're an experienced Demand Planning professional with a passion for leadership, forecasting excellence and supply chain performance, I look forward to hearing from you.