Inventory & Demand Planner

SC4 Recruitment Limited; Essex; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an Inventory & Demand Planner for a consumer goods brand in Essex. This full-time, office-based role involves creating accurate demand forecasts, managing inventory levels, and collaborating with various teams to ensure product availability. The ideal candidate will have experience in demand planning or supply chain management, excellent Excel skills, and the ability to analyze market trends. This role promises variety and cross-functional teamwork, making it ideal for someone passionate about operational optimization.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in demand planning or supply planning in a consumer product environment.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with data analysis and forecasts.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts across multiple regions and channels.
• Collaborate with other teams to align forecasts with business activities.
• Monitor inventory levels and identify risk areas.

Skills

Demand planning

Supply planning

Inventory management

Excel proficiency

Data analysis

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Inventory & Demand Planner - Consumer Products

£36,000 per annum - Essex (Office-based)

Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

As the Inventory & Demand Planner, you will play a key role in balancing demand, supply, and inventory for a consumer goods brand distributed through retail, wholesale, and online channels. This is a highly visible role that works closely with Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and key external partners. You’ll be responsible for creating accurate demand forecasts, managing inventory levels, coordinating supply plans, and supporting the business with actionable insights that drive availability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

This role is ideal for someone from consumer products, electronics, toys & hobbies, health & beauty, apparel, or any industry with SKU complexity and multi-channel distribution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts across multiple regions and channels.
• Analyse historical sales, seasonality, promotions, and market insight to build accurate projections.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to align forecasts with business activity.
• Monitor inventory levels, identify risk areas, and drive actions to avoid stock-outs or excess.
• Support supply planning and production scheduling by providing clear and timely demand signals.
• Prepare and present regular reporting on forecast accuracy, service levels, and operational KPIs.
• Participate in S&OP meetings and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with logistics partners to ensure timely availability of stock across global markets.

Skills & Experience We’re Looking For

• Previous experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, or S&OP in a consumer product environment.
• Confident working with data, trends, forecasts, and spreadsheets (strong Excel essential; ERP / forecasting tools desirable).
• Comfortable working with varied SKU ranges across retail, wholesale, and e-commerce distribution.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships across teams and with suppliers.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritise effectively.
• A proactive mindset with an interest in continuous improvement and operational optimisation.
• Experience in sectors such as sporting goods, consumer electronics, toys, health & beauty, apparel, or FMCG is highly transferable.

Who This Role Suits

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving, and working cross‑functionally. If you’re commercially aware, analytically minded, and ready to take ownership of planning processes in a global product business, we’d love to hear from you. January Start – shortlisting now – Apply now or reach out for a confidential chat!