Demand and Supply Planning Manager

Westfalia Fruit; Greater Lincolnshire; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multinational supplier of fresh produce is seeking a Demand & Supply Planning Manager in Spalding, Lincolnshire. This pivotal role involves leading the planning function, creating demand forecasts, and optimizing supply plans to ensure product availability while minimizing waste. The ideal candidate will have experience in FMCG or perishable goods sectors, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams. This position offers various benefits, including a company pension plan and additional annual leave on your birthday.

Benefits

20 days holiday

Free on-site parking

Additional Annual Leave day on your Birthday

Company pension plan

Medicash plan

Life Insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in demand/supply planning in FMCG or fresh produce.
• Proven ability to lead planning teams.
• Strong understanding of inventory optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead demand forecasting for short and long-term.
• Develop agile supply plans and monitor inventory health.
• Own and facilitate the S&OP process and track KPIs.

Skills

Supply planning experience

S&OP exposure

Analytical capability

Cross-functional communication

Tools

SAP IBP

Excel

BI tools

Job description

Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value‑added products to global markets. Through our vertically‑integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce - 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado‑growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We're looking for a Demand & Supply Planning Manager to join our team in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

We're seeking a dynamic Demand and Supply Planning Manager to lead our Supply Chain planning function and drive operational excellence. Reporting to the Head of Supply Chain, you'll create and execute accurate, agile demand and supply plans that balance customer needs with business capabilities ensuring optimal product availability, minimal waste, and efficient inventory management. As the leader of the S&OP process, you'll act as the key link between Commercial (Customer), Sourcing (Buy), and Supply Chain (Move), aligning strategy and execution to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and commercial success. This is a pivotal role for a results‑driven professional ready to make a real impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead demand forecasting across short, medium, and long‑term horizons using customer insights, historical data, and market trends
• Develop agile supply plans to meet demand while optimizing inventory, reducing stock‑outs, and minimizing waste
• Own and facilitate the full S&OP processes, cross‑functional alignment and driving effective decision‑making
• Monitor inventory health, manage shelf‑life constraints, and protect service levels across the supply chain
• Ensure accurate planning data and systems integrity to support high‑quality forecasting and operational planning
• Track and report KPIs like forecast accuracy, OTIF, and inventory turns—turning insights into action
• Lead and develop planning team members, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence
• Collaborate across Commercial, Operations, Sourcing, and Finance teams to ensure demand‑supply balance
• Respond quickly to supply disruptions or demand shifts, keeping all stakeholders aligned
• Support strategic supply chain initiatives in partnership with the Head of Supply Chain and Quality teams

Requirements

• Experience in supply and/or demand planning roles within FMCG, fresh produce, or perishable goods sectors
• Strong exposure to S&OP, inventory optimisation, and supply‑demand balancing
• Experience working in a matrix or cross‑functional environment
• Proven ability to lead or mentor planners and planning teams
• Advanced knowledge of forecasting techniques, demand planning systems, and supply planning process
• Strong analytical capability; confident in managing large data sets and turning insights into actions
• Skilled in planning systems (e.g. SAP IBP, APO, Oracle, Excel/BI tools)
• Solid understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain dynamics, stock policies, and service level management
• Detail‑oriented, structured, and commercially aware, with strong prioritisation skills and a customer‑led mindset in planning decisions
• Influential cross‑functional communicator, fostering collaboration, driving accountability, and staying calm and proactive under pressure and ambiguity

Benefits

• 20 days holiday
• Free on‑site parking
• Additional Annual Leave day on your Birthday
• Company pension plan
• Medicash plan
• Life Insurance

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.