Supply and Demand Planner

Advocate Group; East Hagbourne; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A global sports and lifestyle brand is seeking a Supply & Demand Planner for their Oxfordshire office. This role involves managing purchase orders and stock intake, requiring strong Excel skills and an analytical mindset. The ideal candidate is well-organized and has experience in supply chain processes or relevant academic qualifications. Candidates will find ample opportunities for ownership and career progression in a fast-paced retail environment that emphasizes teamwork and proactive communication.

Qualifications

• Strong Excel skills (SUMIFS, templates, manual data handling essential).
• Experience in supply chain, demand planning, allocation or merchandising.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Place and maintain purchase orders, ensuring accuracy of volumes.
• Manage the intake of stock into the business.
• Extract and analyse data to support planning decisions.

Skills

Strong Excel skills

Comfortable working with manual spreadsheets

Commercial awareness

Highly organised

Confident prioritizing workload

Clear communicator

Proactive and eager to learn

Education

Graduate with relevant placement year

Tools

SAP

Job description

Role: Supply & Demand Planner

Client: Global Sports / Lifestyle Brand

Salary: £30,000 – £35,000

Location: Oxfordshire, hybrid – 3 days in office

Are you analytical, commercially curious, and comfortable working with data in a fast‑paced retail environment?

The Advocate Group are exclusively partnered with a high‑growth global sports and lifestyle brand operating across footwear, apparel and accessories. Following continued expansion across wholesale and D2C channels, the business is now looking to appoint a Supply & Demand Planner to strengthen its planning function.

This role sits at the intersection of supply chain, demand planning and commercial operations. It’s well suited to someone who enjoys manual data work, understands how stock moves through a retail business, and wants genuine ownership and progression.

The Opportunity

This position will take responsibility for the placement and maintenance of purchase orders, stock intake accuracy, and the optimisation of stock across multiple channels. The role is highly data‑driven and manual in nature, requiring strong Excel capability and a willingness to work with spreadsheets and templates rather than relying solely on automated systems.

The business is open to:

• Candidates from allocator, planning or supply chain backgrounds or
• High‑calibre graduates with a relevant placement year in operations or supply chain who demonstrate strong Excel skills, commercial awareness and the right attitude.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchase Order Management: Place and maintain purchase orders, ensuring accuracy of volumes and dates
• Stock Intake & Placement: Manage the end‑to‑end intake of stock into the business
• Data Extraction & Analysis: Manually extract and analyse data from systems to support planning decisions
• Freight & Logistics Coordination: Work closely with freight forwarders and 3PL partners to manage inbound stock
• Channel Optimisation: Move and optimise stock across wholesale and D2C channels to meet demand
• System Accuracy: Maintain accurate records across SAP and internal planning tools
• Proactive Communication: Flag delays, risks and opportunities to stakeholders
• Forecasting Support: Assist with forecasting activities and planning documentation
• Reporting & KPIs: Support OTIF performance (target 95%) and PO maintenance
• Ownership: Take responsibility for designated product areas
• Projects: Support ad‑hoc projects as required

Skills & Experience

• Strong Excel skills (SUMIFS, templates, manual data handling essential; basic macros a bonus)
• Comfortable working with manual spreadsheets and data‑heavy processes
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of how stock flows through a retail business
• Experience in supply chain, demand planning, allocation or merchandising OR
• Graduate background with a placement year in operations or supply chain
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Confident prioritising workload in a fast‑paced environment
• Clear, professional communicator and strong team player
• Proactive, eager to learn, and hands‑on in approach

Why Apply?

This is a role where attitude, Excel capability and commercial thinking matter more than job title. You’ll gain exposure to the full end‑to‑end planning process, work closely with international teams, and play a critical role in how stock is positioned to drive sales.

The business values curiosity, integrity and ownership, and is open to developing the right person long‑term.

Sound interesting?

Press APPLY NOW or email your CV directly to: [e-mail]