Demand Planner

Wella International; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Wella Company in India seeks a senior S&OP and Demand Planning leader to bridge commercial strategy with supply chain execution for a $50M+ portfolio. You will oversee end-to-end planning from concept to regional distribution, driving digital transformation and cross-functional initiatives.

You will run the monthly S&OP cycle, align sales targets with global supply, manage 1,000+ SKUs, optimize inventory, and deliver KPI improvements in forecast accuracy and costs.

Qualifications

• MBA required from premier institute (IIM, NITIE, SP Jain, IIT etc).
• 5–7 years of prior experience in demand planning (FMCG preferred).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills; proficient in forecasting tools and SAP/IBP/Kinaxis/O9.

Responsibilities

• Act as custodian of Demand for India, owning the demand signal across a multi-layer market.
• Lead the monthly S&OP cycle and integrate brand initiatives into 18-month forecasts.
• Direct omnichannel demand planning for Ecommerce and Quick Commerce channels.
• Optimize forecast accuracy across 1,000+ SKUs and manage Phase-In/Phase-Out for launches.
• Drive inventory optimization and working capital improvements through cross-functional projects.

Skills

Demand planning

Analytical skills

Forecasting

Quantitative analysis

Cross-functional partnering

Education

MBA (IIM/NITIE etc.)

Tools

SAP

IBP

Kinaxis

O9

Excel

Forecasting tools

Job description

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.

For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com

THE ROLE

The primary objective of this role is to lead the strategic demand planning function for the India business. This position bridges the gap between commercial strategy and supply chain execution, overseeing a portfolio exceeding $50M+ and driving digital transformation through advanced analytics and standardized planning ecosystems.

The incumbent will lead the end-to-end planning cycle; from the moment a marketing idea is born to the moment the product lands in a regional DC. You will drive project management through cross-functional leadership, spearheading network optimization and process improvements that unlock significant working capital. As a people manager and S&OP leader, you nurture a high-performing team while aligning country-level sales targets with global supply capabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: INDIA

S&OP & Demand Orchestration: The role acts as the "Custodian of Demand" for the India business, you own the demand signal across a complex, multi-layered market, ensuring supply chain agility for diverse business models:

S&OP Orchestration: You lead the monthly S&OP cycle, collaborating with commercial team to integrate brand building blocks into 18-month consensus forecast

Omnichannel Strategy: Direct the demand planning strategy for the rapidly growing Ecommerce and Quick Commerce channels, utilizing historical data and promotional inputs

Forecast Excellence: Optimize demand sensing for a portfolio of 1,000+ SKUs, consistently targeting and achieving forecast accuracy above 80%.

Portfolio Health: Manage the Phase-In/Phase-Out (PIPO) transitions for new product launches, collaborating with global initiative leaders to keep E&O inventory below 1%.

Inventory Optimization: Strategize stock deployment to maintain a 75-day inventory holding at local Distribution Centres while balancing service levels with working capital constraints.

Cost Savings Initiatives: Leading cross-functional projects to improve the structural efficiency of the supply chain. This is where you drive bottom-line value through "smart" supply chain moves

Unlocking Capital: Identify and execute network optimization projects, such as the strategic addition of new import locations, to bring efficiency in working capital

Operational Excellence: Steer strategic initiatives related to product transfers between manufacturing plants and optimizing container utilization to reduce annual logistics costs.

PRINCIPLE KPIs: Forecast Accuracy, BIAS, Fill Rate, Inventory Excess & Obsolete, Cost saving initiatives.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• MBA from Premier Institute like IIM, NITIE, S P Jain, IIT etc
• Minimum 5-7 years prior experience
• The person should have handled Demand Planning preferably in an FMCG industry
• Technical Knowledge: SAP, IBP, Kinaxis, O9, Advanced Excel, Forecasting tools etc.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills

KEY INTERNAL / EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Sales – RSMs, Trade Marketing team and Ecom KAMs
• Marketing – Brand Managers
• Finance
• Global supply chain stakeholders (ESP, Process experts, LCM, SP, IP etc)