Supply Forecasting Specialist (Junior)

Driscoll's; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in berry production is seeking a Supply Forecasting Specialist to enhance their forecasting and planning efforts. This role is pivotal in connecting with growers and internal teams to gather and analyze critical data, ensuring that the company can make informed business decisions that align with its mission and values. The position involves a mix of office work and field visits, providing a unique opportunity to engage directly with the agricultural process. If you are passionate about agriculture and data analytics, this role offers a chance to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the berry industry.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture with knowledge of Data Analytics and Statistics required.
• 0-2 years experience in Horticulture crops and data analysis preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct weekly field visits to collect production data and project accurate volumes.
• Support analysis of crop development and weather impact for accurate forecasting.

Skills

Data Analysis

Interpersonal Skills

Forecasting

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agriculture

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

• Experience Years: 3-5 Years of Experience
• Employee Type: Regular

About the Opportunity

The Supply Forecasting Specialist will work across the Berry Patch to support the UK Supply Forecasting & Planning team with an important role in collecting, reporting, and analysing data from the growers' forecasts and field visits. To do this well, the Supply Forecasting Specialist will stay in close contact with growers and internal stakeholders on a short and mid-term scope (0-52 weeks). With this data, the department can provide the most accurate information for the best business decisions to support our strategy according to Driscoll’s Mission and Vision, using Driscoll’s values. This role is within an office (30%) and field visits (70%) environment with occasional travel to other production regions across EMEA.

Responsibilities

• Focus on field forecasting by making weekly field visits to collect production data from the crops and project accurate volumes for the business.
• Support the weekly analysis of crop development and weather impact to accurately predict the production volume of each crop per grower, farm, variety, and treatment in the region.
• Update the reference database of the productive area of the current season, pre-season projections, and platform tools used for short-term forecasting and the strategic process.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and ensure continuous improvement in the forecast process and numbers.
• Support the short-term and mid-term supply forecasting & planning process with necessary data.
• Maintain a close connection with the Growers, Operations, Supply Chain team, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop analytical skills to support the growth of the region and department strategy.

Candidate Profile

Requirements

Academic Degree:

• Bachelor’s degree required in Agriculture with knowledge of Data Analytics and Statistics.

Professional experience:

• Working experience (0-2 years) in Horticulture crops and data analysis.

Certifications and Technical skills:

• Knowledge of Microsoft programs (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint - Advanced)
• Knowledge of statistics data analysis - Intermediate

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in cross-functional teams, combining agronomy, meteorology, and data science.
• Flexibility to work in diverse environments (office and field).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and collaboration, and the ability to maintain strong working relationships as both an individual contributor and team member.

About Driscoll's

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful, and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion, and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high-quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries.