Planning Manager

Vertical Advantage Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Private healthcare

Pension contribution

Job summary

Vertical Advantage Ltd. is seeking a Planning Manager to strengthen demand and supply planning for fast-growth beauty FMCG. The role covers UK, US, and Canada, with a hybrid London Central setup (3 days in office, 2 from home).

You will lead forecasts, manage the S&OP cycle, and drive data-driven decision-making as the business expands into new channels. The ideal candidate has planning experience in FMCG/beauty, strong Excel/Sheets skills, and a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset aligned with a

Qualifications

• Experience in demand planning or supply planning in FMCG/beauty sectors.
• FMCG/beauty with long lead times preferred.
• Lean, entrepreneurial mindset with adaptability.
• Finance exposure is a plus for commercial breadth.

Responsibilities

• Lead demand forecasting and supply planning across components and finished goods.
• Own the S&OP cycle with 4-week reviews and leadership decks.
• Manage master data in Excel/Google Sheets.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, logistics, and operations.
• Drive system improvements now with Excel/Google Sheets; ERP transition later.
• Support commercial decisions with strong cost control.
• Work across UK, US, Canada to align with global retail expansion.

Skills

Demand forecasting

S&OP cycle management

Cross-functional collaboration

Forecast accuracy

Cost control

International markets experience

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Salary - £55,000 - £60,000

• 28 days holiday
• Private healthcare
• Pension contribution

Location - London Central - Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 from home)

VA Reference - 9421

We are seeking a Planning Manager to join a fast‑growth FMCG business in the beauty sector. This is a newly created role, designed to strengthen demand and supply planning as the company expands into new retail channels.

The Role

• Lead demand forecasting and supply planning across componentry and finished goods.
• Own the S&OP cycle, running 4‑week reviews and preparing monthly leadership decks.
• Manage master data with precision - currently Excel / Google Sheets
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with sales, logistics, and operations, holding teams accountable for forecast inputs.
• Drive system improvement: immediate reliance on Excel/Google Sheets, with future ERP transition.
• Support commercial decision‑making with strong cost control
• Work across international markets including UK, US, and Canada, ensuring demand and supply planning aligns with global retail expansion

The Candidate

• Background in demand planning, ideally with supply exposure.
• Experience in FMCG or beauty, with long lead time planning advantageous.
• Agile, adaptable, and motivated to thrive in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
• Finance exposure is a plus, reflecting leadership interest in commercial breadth.