Demand Planning Analyst

Ornua; Leek; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched pension

33 days annual leave

Learning & development

Discounted dairy products

Staff canteen subsidy

Bike scheme

Tech scheme

Job summary

Ornua is seeking a proactive Demand Planning Analyst to join our Commercial department in Leek. You will support development and maintenance of accurate demand forecasts by collaborating with sales, brand, category, and supply chain teams.

This role focuses on data analysis, forecasting processes, and IBP cycle reporting with insights to improve forecast accuracy and service levels. FMCG experience and advanced Excel are valued.

Qualifications

• Experience in demand planning, supply chain, analytics, or a related role (FMCG or similar industry preferred).
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with an interest in data and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the creation and maintenance of demand forecasts with available systems.
• Analyse historical sales data, market trends and customer insights to identify patterns.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, category, brand and supply chain teams to align forecasts with business plans.

Skills

Demand planning

Analytics

Forecasting

Data analysis

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job title: Demand Planning Analyst

Reports to: Demand Planning Manager

Location: Leek, Ornua Foods UK

Salary: £30,250- £36,750 depending on experience

Hours: 36.25 hours per week

Benefits: Matched pension scheme, 33 days annual leave, learning and development opportunities, discounted cheese and butter, subsidised staff canteen, bike and tech scheme and many more

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world for over 55 years.

Are you a proactive, solutions focused analyst looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organisation to its next level of success?

Ornua is actively seeking a Demand Planning Analyst to join our Commercial department as we continue our growth trajectory.

As our Demand Planning Analyst you will play a key role in supporting the development and maintenance of accurate demand forecasts by working collaboratively with sales, brand, category, and supply chain teams.

You will focus on analysing data, supporting forecasting processes, and contributing to the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) cycle through reporting and insights.

Why Ornua?

• Ornua operates as a commercial organisation from 10 business units worldwide, including 12 production facilities located in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa.
• The commercial organisation is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands including Ireland’s most successful food export: Kerrygold.
• It also manages the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers globally, and the implementation of de-risking and trading strategies to manage market volatility.
• Our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business as a purpose and values-led organisation, creating value for Irish dairy farming families.
• Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• Dynamic Working policy in place which facilitates flexible hours and hybrid working
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Career Progression including Global Mobility opportunities.
• Comprehensive Benefits with regional specific offerings.

Why This Role Is Valuable:

As our Demand Planning Analyst, you will be responsible for leading on;

• Demand Forecasting: Support the creation and maintenance of demand forecasts using available systems. Assist in applying statistical models and incorporating market intelligence to improve forecast accuracy and service levels.
• Data Analysis: Analyse historical sales data, market trends, and customer insights to identify patterns and highlight risks or opportunities to improve forecast accuracy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with sales, category, brand, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment between forecasts and business plans, providing data-driven insights where required.
• Continuous Improvement: Support improvements in demand planning processes by identifying inefficiencies and contributing ideas to enhance ways of working, systems usage, and reporting.
• Performance Metrics: Assist in tracking and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs), helping to monitor forecast accuracy and bias.
• Customer & Stakeholder Support: Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and support customer-related demand activities where required.

What You Bring To The Role:

• Experience in demand planning, supply chain, analytics, or a related role (FMCG or similar industry preferred)
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with an interest in data and forecasting
• Advanced Excel skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• High attention to detail with a proactive, problem-solving mindset
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Eagerness to learn and develop within demand planning / supply chain

Our interview process is designed to be thorough yet supportive. This process includes a first stage via Teams to allow us to get to know you better and to understand your skills and experiences and, if successful, a second stage face-to-face interview that will build upon the first stage and give you the opportunity to get a feel for Ornua and the environment in which you will be working.

Ornua has ambitious growth plans and we’re building a team to help enable and accelerate that growth. We are looking for people who share our values, are curious, forward-looking, take ownership and work together to build a future for themselves and Ornua.

Would you like to make an impact?

Ornua values diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. We also strongly encourage women and other underrepresented groups in the manufacturing industry to apply. Your unique perspectives and experiences are highly valued and will be instrumental in driving our company’s continued success. Join us in shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Ornua is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. We will make every effort to provide for any reasonable accessibility needs you may have during your employment with us. If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know — we’re here to support you.