Senior Demand Planner

Ecolab; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecolab is seeking a Senior Demand Planner to own and drive the consolidated demand plan for the UK/Ireland region within the European Demand Planning team. You will partner with Commercial, Marketing, Finance and Supply Planning to deliver accurate forecasts and support inventory optimization.

You will lead monthly planning activities, challenge assumptions with data-driven insights, and drive cross-functional alignment across multiple markets and product portfolios.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in English language.
• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, forecasting, S&OP, or a related analytical function.
• Demonstrated experience leading demand planning processes across multiple markets, business units, or product portfolios.
• Strong experience with ERP systems, Advanced Planning Systems (APS), forecasting tools, and data analytics platforms.
• Kinaxis is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with large datasets.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority and build alignment across multiple organizational levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance data, business insight, and customer needs.
• Demonstrated experience driving forecast accuracy improvements and delivering measurable business results.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate business strategy into effective demand planning decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end consolidated demand plan for the UK/Ireland region across one or more divisions.
• Lead the monthly demand planning process with cross-functional alignment.
• Develop robust, data-driven forecast across short-, mid-, and long-term horizons.
• Challenge forecast assumptions using data analysis and market insights.
• Identify demand risks/opportunities and propose mitigation scenarios.
• Monitor forecast accuracy, bias, and KPIs with root-cause analysis.
• Translate trends into insights for senior stakeholders.
• Integrate new product launches, transitions, and promotions into the plan.
• Drive continuous improvements in planning processes and governance.
• Mentor Demand Planners and promote planning excellence.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, distribution, and suppliers to translate plans into execution.

Skills

Demand planning

Forecasting

S&OP

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel / data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

ERP systems

APS

Forecasting tools

Kinaxis

Excel

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Demand Planner to join European Demand Planning team. In this strategic role, you will own and drive the consolidated demand plan across UK/Ireland region for personal and pharma care business division and you will be accountable for demand plan of one of the biggest divisions of Ecolab for Europe. As the senior demand planner for your portfolio, you will partner closely with Commercial Teams, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Divisional Planning to deliver an accurate, unbiased demand plan that supports business growth, customer service, and inventory optimization.

You will play a key role in the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, providing actionable insights, leading cross-functional discussions, challenging assumptions, and driving continuous improvement across planning processes and capabilities.

What You Will Do

• Own the end-to-end consolidated demand plan across UK/Ireland region for one or more business divisions, ensuring alignment with customer demand, business strategy, and S&OP objectives.
• Lead the monthly demand planning process, facilitating cross-functional alignment and driving consensus on key assumptions, risks, and opportunities.
• Partner with Commercial, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Divisional Planning teams to develop a robust, data-driven demand forecast across the short-, mid-, and long-term planning horizons.
• Challenge forecast assumptions through data analysis, market intelligence, statistical insights, and business judgment to improve forecast quality and reduce bias.
• Proactively identify demand risks and opportunities, develop scenario analyses, and recommend mitigation plans to support informed business decisions.
• Monitor and drive improvements in forecast accuracy, forecast bias, and other planning KPIs through root cause analysis and structured action plans.
• Act as a trusted business partner by translating complex demand trends into meaningful insights and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Lead the integration of new product launches, product transitions, promotional activities, and product discontinuations into the demand plan.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across demand planning processes, systems, and governance using Lean, Kaizen, or other operational excellence methodologies.
• Champion best practices in demand planning, supporting capability development across the European planning organization.
• Mentor and provide guidance to Demand Planners or less experienced team members, sharing knowledge and promoting planning excellence.
• Collaborate with manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and suppliers to ensure demand plans are effectively translated into operational execution.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in English language
• \ *5+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, forecasting, S&OP , or a related analytical function.
• Demonstrated experience leading demand planning processes across multiple markets, business units, or product portfolios.
• Strong experience with ERP systems, Advanced Planning Systems (APS), forecasting tools, and data analytics platforms.
• Kinaxis is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with large datasets.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority and build alignment across multiple organizational levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance data, business insight, and customer needs.
• Demonstrated experience driving forecast accuracy improvements and delivering measurable business results.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate business strategy into effective demand planning decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or MBA in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field.
• APICS/ASCM Certification (CPIM or CSCP preferred).
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or Kaizen methodologies.
• Past experience in the pharma & personal care is a plus.

About Ecolab

At Ecolab, we prioritize our talent-first philosophy by creating the most capable and diverse team to excel at our nearly three million customer sites. Building on a century of innovation, our 48,000 associates help deliver comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. Our solutions not only enhance operational efficiency but also contribute to sustainability and public health, making a positive impact on the world. We are committed to eliminating unnecessary complexities and embracing a beginner’s mindset, continuously seeking new perspectives and innovative solutions to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

Ecolab’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) reflects our longstanding value of working together to integrate diverse perspectives to challenge ourselves, reach our goals and do what’s right.

Join Ecolab and help us protect what’s vital.