Stock Planning Category Manager

ao.com; Bolton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the electrical retail sector is seeking a Stock Planning Manager to enhance supply chain efficiency. This role involves collaborating with internal teams and suppliers, managing stock plans, and guiding a team of Demand Planners. The successful candidate will benefit from a supportive culture and a range of perks, including generous holidays and health benefits.

Benefits

25 days holidays plus bank holidays

5% pension contribution

VIP access at AO Arena

Discounted gym membership

Health and wellbeing support

Exclusive product discounts

Enhanced family leave

2 paid charity days

Free onsite parking and breakfast

Qualifications

• Experience in demand and supply planning with strong knowledge of forecasting.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with Power BI or Relex is a plus.
• Ability to present insights and recommendations clearly.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of the stock plan for the category, ensuring supply chain efficiency.
• Support and guide a small team of Demand Planners.
• Manage supplier performance and oversee purchase orders.

Skills

Demand and supply planning

Forecasting

Budget management

Data analysis

Communication

Organizational skills

Flexibility

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Relex

Job description

We're looking for a Stock Planning Manager who’s passionate about making an impact and ready to get stuck into the fast-paced world of supply and inventory planning. You’ll be collaborating with brilliant people across AO and beyond to help drive our strategic goals.

This is your chance to gain hands-on experience in a key commercial function, build strong cross-functional relationships, and play a big part in how we deliver the right products to our customers—at the right time. You’ll work closely with our suppliers, warehouses, and internal teams, all while developing your own skills and making a real difference.

Our people are our superpower, and we’re unstoppable when we’re together! We want your ideas to flow, and what better way to make that happen than being based onsite, 5 days a week, where our culture fuels creativity, collaboration and growth. If a £1 bet in the pub between two friends can become the UKs most trusted electrical retailer, imagine what else can be achieved when we we’re together!

Here's What You Can Expect To Be Doing

You’ll take ownership of the stock plan for your category, using data to track performance and make informed decisions. Working closely with internal teams, suppliers, and our warehouse in Crewe, you’ll ensure we maintain strong supply chain efficiency and meet commercial targets.

Alongside this, you’ll support and guide a small team of Demand Planners, providing insight and coaching to help them succeed. You’ll also contribute to process improvement, manage supplier performance, and oversee purchase orders, rebates, and stock budgets to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

A Few Things About You

• You have experience in demand and supply planning, with strong knowledge of forecasting and budget management
• You’re confident working with data and comfortable using Excel at an advanced level (experience with Power BI or Relex is a plus)
• You’re a clear communicator who can present insights and recommendations to different audiences
• You’re highly organised, detail-focused, and able to manage your time and workload independently
• You’re flexible and able to adapt in a fast-moving environment
• You’re happy to travel to our Crewe warehouse on a regular basis to stay aligned with our operational teams

A Bit About Us

When it comes to appliances and electricals, we’ve got the lot. Washing machines? Yep. TVs? Check. Laptops? Absolutely. Everything except doorbells (just kidding, we’ve got those too).

We’re known for helping our customers brilliantly - and it’s no different for AOers. We care about more than what’s on your CV, because together we can do extraordinary things.

Our benefits are designed to cover the moments that matter to AOers. From health and wellness to giving back - you’ll be rewarded inside and outside of work.

• Holidays; 25 days, plus bank holidays (increasing to 27 days after 2 years with us!)
• Pension; Contribute 5% of your annual salary and we'll do the same, giving you a little extra support for the future.
• Be a VIP at the AO Arena; we have loads of opportunities to win free tickets and pre-sale access!
• Health & wellbeing; discounted gym membership, an onsite spa and our Help @ Hand scheme giving you access to virtual GP’s, Mental Health support and much more.
• Discounts; exclusive discounts across our product range.
• Family leave; Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave.
• Making a difference; 2 fully paid days a year to donate your time to any charity of your choice.
• On site perks; start your day with free on site parking, grabbing a complimentary breakfast and a coffee at our subsidised Starbucks!

To see all our benefits and perks, visit our AO Benefits page.