Demand Planning Specialist

Independent Food; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 183,000 - 258,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food production company in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Demand Planning Specialist to support procurement operations. This role involves sourcing ingredients and packaging while managing suppliers to ensure quality and compliance with food safety standards. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience in procurement within the food industry, with strong analytical and negotiation skills. This position offers opportunities for collaboration with cross-functional teams and driving cost reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement within the food industry.
• Familiarity with food safety regulations and standards (HACCP, FSMA, BRC) is essential.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing sourcing strategies for food ingredients and packaging.
• Conduct supplier research and evaluate quotes and proposals.
• Collaborate with various teams to align sourcing strategies.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Negotiation skills

Attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Food Science, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite

e-procurement tools

Job description

Job Overview / Summary:

The Demand Planning Specialist will support procurement operations by identifying, evaluating, and managing suppliers for food ingredients, raw materials, and packaging. This role plays a key part in ensuring quality, cost-efficiency, and timely delivery of materials essential for food production. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of sourcing processes, supplier negotiations, and industry regulations specific to the food sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and execution of sourcing strategies for assigned categories (e.g., ingredients, raw materials, packaging).
• Conduct supplier research, benchmarking, and qualifications to support sourcing initiatives.
• Request, evaluate, and compare quotes, proposals, and samples from vendors.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance & Control teams, Operations, Chefs, and Regulatory teams to align sourcing strategies with product specifications, compliance requirements and market constraints.
• Maintain and update supplier databases and procurement records in ERP systems.
• Support contract negotiations and help ensure that contracts meet regulatory and business requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance and service levels, escalating issues as needed.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, ethical sourcing policies, and sustainability initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance & relationship using KPIs and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and value engineering projects without compromising quality and safety standards.
• Prepare and present regular reports on sourcing activities, savings, and market trends to higher management.

OTHER DUTIES

Regular attendance in conformance with the standards which may be established by the company from time to time is essential to the successful performance of this position.

Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Food Science, or related field.
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement within the food industry and / or more generally within the FMCG sector.
• Familiarity with food safety regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP, FSMA, BRC).
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with ERP/procurement software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and e-procurement tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Language: Perfect English, additional language is a plus.

SOFT SKILLS

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Drive For Results.
• Action oriented.
• Motivating others.