Demand Planner

Fox's Burton's Companies; St Albans; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company that bakes the UK's most beloved biscuits! This role is pivotal in supporting commercial teams by maintaining accurate customer forecasts and contributing to the S&OP cycle. You'll lead meetings, analyze sales data, and collaborate with supply chain teams to ensure seamless operations. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this innovative firm provides an environment where you can thrive and grow professionally. If you have a passion for data and a knack for demand planning, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to make a significant impact in the industry.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in demand/supply planning with FMCG experience preferred.
• Strong analytical and Excel skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Support commercial teams by maintaining accurate customer forecasts.
• Lead Demand Consensus Meetings and optimize demand plans.

Skills

Demand Planning

Commercial Awareness

Advanced Excel Skills

Analytical Skills

Effective Communication

Stakeholder Management

Leadership Skills

Process Improvement

Education

Minimum 3 years of experience in demand or supply planning

Experience in FMCG sector

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies! ……And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge).

FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company.

We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We are proud manufacturing partners to some of the biggest UK retailers and household names. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Isle of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset and our HQ in St Albans. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing colleagues across all our locations.

We are currently the second biscuit manufacturer in the UK market with a strong ambition of becoming UK Market Leader.

Whilst we know that we have delicious products we also know that that the key ingredient to our success is our people, and the passion we have for our brands. You could be the jammy to our dodger, party ring to our Fox’s or the choc-chip to our Maryland?! We knead people with innovative ideas, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the commitment to drive FBC UK to success

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that feels empowered to build a fulfilling and successful career. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) we create a supportive environment for people to thrive and strive to have more positive impact.

We understand that having formal and on-the-job learning opportunities is key to our colleagues’ professional and personal growth. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone can learn from each other and grow through a variety of learning experiences.

Our colleagues make our business special. With strong community values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial and supporting each other whilst meeting our business goals.

About the Role

In this role, you will support our commercial teams by updating and maintaining accurate customer forecasts. Additionally, you will assist the wider Demand Planning Team in achieving forecast accuracy to meet KPI targets, thereby supporting our Customer Service goals. You will also contribute to the S&OP cycle by participating in periodic Demand Consensus Meetings, Base Rate Reviews, and other Forecast Meetings.

Main Responsibilities

• Chair Base Rate review meetingsto ensure accurate customer forecasting.
• Support the S&OP cyclethrough demand data review and engagement with commercial teams.
• Optimize demand plansand manage product transitions to minimize obsolescence.
• Analyze data(sales history, promotional events, customer insights) to improve forecasts.
• Lead monthly Demand Consensus Meetingsto finalize volume forecasts, highlight assumptions, and identify risks and opportunities.
• Provide ad hoc analysisto aid decision-making with sales and marketing teams.
• Coordinate new product launchesand annual budget processes with sales and marketing.
• Track and reduce surplus stockand SKU complexity to maximize profit.
• Communicate volume requeststo manufacturing sites and relay responses to sales.
• Collaborate with Supply Chainto ensure clear forecast changes and assumptions for planning.

Who we are looking for

• Minimum 3 yearsof demand or supply planning experience, with commercial awareness.
• FMCG sectorand retail experience preferred.
• Advanced Excel skillsand proficiency in Microsoft packages.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Ability togather, manipulate, and interpret datato solve problems and predict trends.
• Ability totransition between detailed and abstract thinking.
• Effective communicationskills, both verbal and written, across all organizational levels.
• Proven ability tobuild relationshipsand influence stakeholders.
• Leadership and organizational skillsto meet deadlines with quality output.
• Ability toinnovate and improve processes.

Diversity Statement

FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.