Demand Planner

Compass Point Recruitment; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Demand Planner in Bury St Edmunds to enhance production performance in a growing company. The role involves creating demand forecasts, managing inventory, and collaborating across teams to optimize supply chain operations. Candidates should have over 5 years in demand planning or supply chain roles, ideally within FMCG. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for progression

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Free onsite parking

Training and professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in demand planning or supply chain, preferably in FMCG.
• Strong understanding of demand forecasting, S&OP, and inventory management.
• Proactive in leading continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop accurate demand forecasts for finished goods and raw materials.
• Collaborate with global S&OP teams to align demand.
• Support production planning activities ensuring materials availability.

Skills

Demand forecasting

Inventory management

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Advanced Excel skills

Continuous improvement initiatives

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

SAP

Oracle

Dynamics

Job description

Job Title: Demand Planner

Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Working Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Compass Point Recruitment is partnering with a rapidly growing business in Suffolk, who are seeking an experienced Demand Planner to support both UK and European production operations. This is a pivotal role within the supply chain team, responsible for forecasting, inventory management, and ensuring materials are available to meet customer demand efficiently.

We're looking for someone analytical, proactive, and confident in decision-making, with a service oriented mindset and the ability to work collaboratively across functions in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop accurate demand forecasts across finished goods, raw materials, and packaging to support production and inventory planning.
• Collaborate with global S&OP teams to align demand, maintain performance metrics, and ensure inventory levels are accurate.
• Coordinate imports from internal and external suppliers and manage stock transactions across UK and European sites.
• Monitor inventory to maintain operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
• Support production planning activities to ensure materials are available to meet customer demand and production schedules.
• Prepare regular analysis and performance reports for management, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Identify products approaching expiry and work with global teams on rework, redistribution, or utilisation strategies to minimise waste.
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain function.
• Collaborate with procurement, logistics, and operations teams to optimise processes and resolve supply chain issues.
• Maintain accurate planning data within ERP/MRP systems to ensure data integrity.
• Contribute insights and recommendations in weekly and monthly planning meetings.

Experience & Skills Required:

• 5+ years' experience in demand planning, supply chain, or production planning, ideally within a multi-site or high-volume manufacturing environment, ideally within FMCG.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Dynamics) is desirable but not essential.
• Strong understanding of demand forecasting, S&OP, capacity planning, and inventory management.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working across functions, cultures, and international teams.
• Proactive and experienced in contributing to or leading continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Kaizen).
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis tools).
• Knowledge of import processes, customs requirements, or international supply chain operations is advantageous.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for progression within a growing company
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Free onsite parking
• Training and professional development opportunities

If you're a data-driven planner looking to make a real impact on supply chain performance and production efficiency, this is an excellent opportunity. Apply today.