Demand Planning Manager — Hybrid & AI-Driven Growth

Ocado Retail Limited; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Ocado discount

Hybrid working

Pension

Job summary

Ocado Retail in Hatfield is seeking a Senior Demand Planning Manager to lead a team of up to four Demand Planners and own forecasting and availability for a key product area. This player-manager role blends hands-on analysis with people leadership to drive growth and efficiency across suppliers and internal stakeholders.

You will shape forecasts, manage promotions and seasonality, and foster strong supplier partnerships to ensure in-full, on-time delivery while optimizing costs.

Qualifications

• Strong forecasting and availability management experience in grocery or FMCG.
• Experience developing and coaching teams to high performance.
• Ability to balance business goals with cost and waste reduction.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of up to 4 Demand Planners, providing feedback and developing talent.
• Set clear objectives and support delivery against them.
• Own forecasting, availability and performance for your category.
• Build supplier partnerships and hold them to a gold-standard delivery.
• Recruit, onboard and develop new Demand Planners and drive career progression.
• Act as category expert for promotional, seasonal and event forecasting.
• Cover for the Category Demand Planning Manager in meetings when needed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in commercial, analytics and logistics.
• Challenge inbound flows to deliver best availability at lowest costs.
• Balance hands-on delivery with people leadership daily.

Skills

Demand planning

Coaching

Commercial mindset

Relationship building

Analytical thinking

Job description

Ocado Retail in Hatfield is seeking a Senior Demand Planning Manager to lead a team of up to four Demand Planners and own forecasting and availability for a key product area. This player-manager role blends hands-on analysis with people leadership to drive growth and efficiency across suppliers and internal stakeholders.

You will shape forecasts, manage promotions and seasonality, and foster strong supplier partnerships to ensure in-full, on-time delivery while optimizing costs.