Demand Planner - Food To Go

WHSmith; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Demand Planner to optimize sales and manage stock levels effectively. This dynamic role involves creating forecasts, analyzing market trends, and collaborating with various teams to ensure product availability and minimize waste. The company offers a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and a range of attractive benefits, including generous holiday allowances and performance bonuses. Join a forward-thinking team that values creativity and innovation, and contribute to a legacy of excellence in a globally recognized brand.

Benefits

Car Allowance

Annual Bonus

24 Days Holiday

Birthday Off

Pension Contributions

Staff Discount Card

Finish at 4 PM on Fridays

Qualifications

• Proven proficiency in forecasting methods with financial and operational understanding.
• Strong mathematical skills and high proficiency in Excel for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Create and shape ongoing forecasts, challenging assumptions.
• Manage stock levels and work with buyers to ensure availability.

Skills

Forecasting Methods

Stock Management

Excel Proficiency

Interpersonal Skills

Commercial Acumen

Mathematical Skills

Job description

Demand Planner

London Head Office

Hybrid Working

Job Purpose

At WHSmith, our people are at the heart of everything we do. They go the extra mile for our customers and enable our growth. Our Merchandising team is passionate about creating an environment where people can be creative and trailblazing to do their best work. The Demand Planner will be responsible for planning sales, profits, and demand to maximize sales and minimize exit and overstocks. This role also involves completing range analysis to identify opportunities for sales and waste optimization, as well as leading forecasting and planning for new stores, initiatives, and products.

What you’ll do

• Create and shape ongoing forecasts, challenging assumptions where appropriate.
• Prepare forecast data and stock buy details for key seasonal peaks for sign-off meetings.
• Manage stock levels on ongoing ranges.
• Work with buyers and key suppliers to ensure key lines remain in stock.
• Monitor promotional activities and highlight variances from sales forecasts to react to shortages or overstocks.
• Support the development of stock systems and forecasting methods to continually improve accuracy across the business.
• Manage sell-through on delisted products.

Who you are

• Proven proficiency in forecasting methods with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts.
• Experience in stock management.
• Strong listening, presentation, and decision-making skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills to interact with all teams and levels affecting the forecast process.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to interpret market trends.
• Knowledge of supply chain and inventory management.
• Mathematical skills and high proficiency in Excel, with the ability to analyze and manipulate data quickly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

What we can offer you

• Competitive salary and car allowance.
• Annual bonus based on performance.
• Hybrid working model (home and office).
• 24 days holiday, plus your birthday off, plus bank holidays, with options to buy extra days.
• Finish at 4 pm on Fridays.
• Competitive pension contributions.
• Staff discount card for stores and online.

Who we are

Celebrating 230 years, we’re a globally recognized brand present in over 30 countries. With over 11,000 colleagues, we are committed to our planet, people, and communities. Our UK Travel mission is to create value by providing a platform for global brands in airports, hospitals, rail stations, and other markets. Our London office is near Liverpool Street Station, fostering a culture of pace, collaboration, and innovation, ideal for proactive individuals willing to embrace challenges outside their comfort zones.