Inventory & Demand Planning Specialist - Southampton

SKILLFINDER INTERNATIONAL; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent supply chain organization in the United Kingdom is looking for a skilled professional to ensure effective supply chain planning and inventory optimization. You will manage inventory policies and facilitate communication among stakeholders, driving continuous improvement in supply chain processes. The ideal candidate should hold a university degree in Supply Chain or a related field, possessing strong analytical skills and proficiency in advanced planning systems. Excellent communication and leadership traits are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Proficient in planning, logistics, or manufacturing with demonstrated experience.
• Strong analytical and digital skills along with solid supply chain process knowledge.
• Excellent communication skills combined with leadership traits in challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Manage inventory policies and optimize supply chain performance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to resolve supply issues.
• Drive continuous improvement in supply chain reporting and processes.

Skills

Planning skills

Logistics knowledge

Analytical skills

Digital skills

Communication skills

Leadership traits

Education

University degree in Supply Chain or related field

Tools

Advanced planning systems

CI tools

Job description

Role Overview

Responsible for ensuring effective supply chain planning, inventory optimization, and reporting across the network. Acts as a key link between customer service, suppliers, and internal planning teams to deliver accurate forecasts, resolve supply issues, and maintain optimal service levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage inventory policies, safety stock, and service levels to optimize supply chain performance.
• Validate planning lead times and align supply with demand through planned orders and deployments.
• Monitor and resolve supply and distribution exceptions, ensuring clear communication with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with demand planners, purchasing planners, production schedulers, and suppliers to ensure constraint visibility and capacity alignment.
• Maintain and update master data, planning BOMs, and system parameters in advanced planning tools (eg, KXS Rapid Response).
• Share forecasts with suppliers and ensure supplier raw material availability.
• Approve automation and stockholding policies based on segmentation strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement by simplifying processes and ensuring high-quality reporting.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in planning, logistics, or manufacturing
• Strong analytical and digital skills with solid supply chain process knowledge.
• Proficiency in advanced planning systems, CI tools, and agile concepts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with evidence of leadership traits such as resilience, curiosity, and decision-making in ambiguity.

Education

• University degree (Supply Chain or related field preferred).
• Advanced planning system expertise is an advantage.