Forecasting Manager

Waitrose & Partners; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retail company is seeking Forecasting Managers to guide a team through accurate demand forecasting. The successful candidate will lead a team of 7 analysts and ensuring consistency in processes while maximizing productivity. The position offers a hybrid working approach and a salary range of £54,500-£84,100.

Qualifications

• Leadership and experience in managing a forecasting team.
• Ability to guide teams through data-driven decisions.
• Experience in coaching and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead a CPG Forecasting team to deliver demand forecasts.
• Coach the team to ensure consistent processes.
• Drive process enhancements to maximize productivity.

Skills

Complex data and analytics

Stakeholder management

Previous Forecasting experience

Previous people management experience

Job description

About the role

We are looking for 2 Forecasting Managers, one permanent and one fixed-term contract (secondment) until early July 2026. The successful candidate will be a dedicated leader, guiding their team through data driven decisions to achieve market leading performance across product availability, whilst balancing price change and stock holding to a level that supports operational efficiency and excellence. With the introduction of machine learning forecast platforms, you will be responsible for embedding processes and becoming a subject matter expert to support direct reports through challenges with the system and its limitations. You will be responsible for coaching and development, directing and supporting a team of 7 forecast analysts. You will work closely with teams across the merchandising departments on projects to maximise productivity.

• Salary - £54,500-£84,100

• Contract type - We have 2 opportunities. 1 permanent role and 1 fixed-term contract (secondment) until early July 2026

• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team aim for 2 days per week in the office to connect.

• Location - This role is based at Waitrose Head Office, Bracknell

Key responsibilities

Lead a CPG Forecasting team to deliver all elements of the forecasting plan, and the creation of accurate demand forecasts for all items, locations and demand streams, including ecommerce, ensuring that the team individually and collectively play a full part in the success of the CPG, and that the critical balance between availability, wastage and stock holding is achieved.

Act as the technical expert and coach for own team, ensuring consistent application of processes through coaching and development. Share this knowledge across other merchandising teams as appropriate, drawing on the skills and knowledge of the Super Users as necessary.

Support the Manager, Forecasting in setting the strategic direction of the trading directorate forecasting plan. Work with the wider Merchandising team to drive robust improvements and processes that contribute to the success of the department.

Work with the wider department/business to identify, develop and deploy opportunities for process enhancements within the Merchandising team, both on a continuous improvement basis and on a longer term transformational and strategic basis. Leads on projects for the Merchandising department with a view to maximise productivity.

Play a full part in the Merchandising department, and support Partnership Missions, Touchpoints and Category Proposition Groups as required, taking on broader responsibilities to support the objectives of the wider Merchandising team.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Complex data and analytics

• Stakeholder management

• Previous Forecasting experience

• Previous people management experience

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Coaching and Development experience

• Project/Change Management experience

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About The Partnership

We're the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We're not just employees, we're Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.

We're ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we're free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It's important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you'll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.