Demand Planning Specialist (Rochdale, GB, OL16 4NR)

Danish Crown UK Ltd.; Newhey; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Danish Crown UK in Rochdale invites an experienced Demand Planning Specialist to own the demand plan across categories and markets, driving forecast accuracy through collaborative reviews with Sales, Category, and Supply Planning teams.

You will monitor KPIs, conduct scenario planning, and lead continuous improvements to forecasting tools and processes with flexible remote work options, shaping the company’s planning transformation.

Qualifications

• Relevant BSc or MSc degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics or equivalent practical experience in demand planning and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel capability and strong data interpretation abilities.
• Experience with planning systems such as SAP APO, SAP IBP or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Own the demand plan for assigned categories and markets.
• Lead demand reviews and collaborate with Sales, Category, and Planning teams.
• Monitor forecast accuracy, bias and volatility KPIs to reduce risk.
• Support weekly S&OE and monthly S&OP processes to align execution with goals.
• Conduct scenario planning and analyse impact of demand on service levels and inventory.
• Drive continuous improvements to forecasting processes and tools.

Skills

Excel

Data interpretation

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BSc or MSc in Supply Chain, Business, Economics or related

Equivalent practical experience in demand planning

Tools

SAP APO

SAP IBP

Job description

Demand Planning Specialist

Govern and continuously improve demand forecasting across categories and markets to ensure transparent demand signals and robust alignment between supply and commercial performance.

Demand Planning Specialist

Govern and continuously improve demand forecasting across categories and markets to ensure transparent demand signals and robust alignment between supply and commercial performance.

What You Will Be Doing

Reporting directly to the S&OP Manager in this Rochdale-based role with remote working flexibility, you will own the demand plan, leading collaborative reviews and driving forecast accuracy across the organisation.

• Developing and maintaining demand forecasts for assigned categories and markets.
• Leading demand reviews and collaborating with Sales, Category, Supply Planning and Master Planning teams.
• Monitoring forecast accuracy, bias and demand volatility KPIs to reduce forecast risk.
• Supporting weekly S&OE and monthly S&OP processes to align short-term execution with long-term goals.
• Conducting scenario planning and analysing the impact of demand changes on service levels, inventory and capacity.
• Driving continuous improvements to forecasting processes, planning tools and machine learning models.

What You Will Bring

We are looking for an analytical, proactive professional who can translate complex data into clear, actionable insights. You will bring the commercial awareness needed to evaluate market volatility alongside the communication skills to align cross-functional stakeholders.

• Experience: Relevant BSc or MSc degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics or equivalent practical experience in demand planning and forecasting, ideally within FMCG, food manufacturing or retail environments.
• Hard skills: Advanced Microsoft Excel capability, strong data interpretation abilities and experience with planning systems such as SAP APO, SAP IBP or similar software.
• Soft skills: Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, strong cross-functional collaboration abilities and a structured, improvement-focused mindset.

Why join us

This position joins a newly strengthened planning organisation where Demand Planning and Master Planning are brought together to create seamless alignment between demand and supply. You will play a central role in shaping future forecasting standards while contributing directly to the next chapter of Danish Crown's planning transformation.

Operating at the intersection of commercial and supply chain functions, you will enjoy significant influence over business performance and forecasting excellence. You will work within an ambitious, supportive team that offers room for growth, autonomy and process innovation, combining remote working with time in our Rochdale location.

About Us

Danish Crown UK is a business built on trust, teamwork and ambition. We exist to deliver food that people believe in, and we know that takes strong leadership and collaborative cultures.

Our leadership principles guide us. We act for the good of the whole organisation. We hire brilliant people and help them grow. We are ambitious, curious and open to new ideas. We build trust by accepting mistakes as part of development. We believe real leadership is earned through example, not title.

Whoever joins us will help create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, challenge old ways of working and stretch themselves to achieve more. If that sounds like the environment where you thrive, we would love to hear from you.