Head of Planning

Antal International; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 vacation days per year

Employee discount on collection

Job summary

Antal International is seeking a senior Planning leader in the Netherlands to build a best-in-class planning organisation. You will own demand, supply, production planning, inventory, and S&OP, working cross-functionally to translate data into actionable plans and drive growth.

The role requires 8–10 years in planning with leadership experience, strong ERP knowledge, and a proven ability to optimise working capital and service levels in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years in supply chain planning or IBP, with leadership experience.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of ERP and planning systems.
• FMCG/cosmetics or fast-moving production experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Planning team and end-to-end planning across demand, supply, production, inventory, and S&OP.
• Develop and implement planning tools, KPIs, and processes to improve forecasting accuracy and operational performance.
• Drive forecasting accuracy through collaboration with Commercial, Marketing, Operations and Finance.
• Balance customer service, inventory, manufacturing efficiency, and cost in production and supply plans.
• Lead monthly S&OP to align business objectives with forecasts and financial plans.
• Monitor capacity and identify constraints; develop mitigation plans.
• Analyse demand patterns and inventory trends to support strategic decisions.
• Support new product launches and promotions with cross‑functional planning.
• Provide data-driven recommendations on inventory strategy and capacity investments.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Planning leadership

Demand planning

Supply planning

S&OP

Forecasting

Team leadership

ERP systems

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in related field

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Our client is a leading Dutch company in the Beauty sector with one of the world’s most respected haircare brands, distributed in over 90 countries. The company continues to expand internationally while remaining true to its founding values and prides itself on a warm, collaborative culture that feels like family, empowering employees and clients worldwide to express creativity and confidence.

The successful candidate will be responsible for creating a best-in-class planning organisation that supports business growth, operational excellence, customer service, and working capital optimisation. This role will serve as a key decision-maker and business partner, translating data and market insights into actionable plans that drive performance across the organisation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Management of the Planning team.
• Lead and develop the end-to-end planning function across demand, supply, production, inventory, and S&OP processes.
• Manage and develop a team of five planning professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Drive forecasting accuracy through close collaboration with Commercial, Marketing, Operations, and Finance teams.
• Ensure optimal production and supply plans that balance customer service, inventory levels, manufacturing efficiency, and cost management.
• Lead the monthly S&OP process, ensuring alignment between business objectives, demand forecasts, supply capabilities, and financial plans.
• Monitor capacity planning and identify potential supply constraints, developing mitigation plans where necessary.
• Analyse demand patterns, inventory trends, service levels, and supply chain performance to support strategic decision-making.
• Develop and implement planning tools, KPIs, and processes to improve forecasting accuracy and operational performance.
• Support new product launches and promotional activities through effective planning and cross-functional coordination.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to senior leadership regarding inventory strategy, capacity investments, and supply chain optimisation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning, forecasting, and supply chain processes.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Professional Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in supply chain planning, demand planning, production planning, or integrated business planning, including several years in a leadership role.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of ERP and planning systems.
• Ideally, but not necessarily, Experience within FMCG, cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, or another fast-moving production environment.
• Professional fluency in English is essential; additional languages, in particular Dutch, are advantageous.
• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven people leader capable of developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Data-driven decision-maker with the ability to translate complexity into clear actions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across all organisational levels.
• Results-oriented with a pragmatic and hands-on approach.
• Able to balance short-term operational priorities with long-term business objectives.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Personality & Culture Fit

• Collaborative and relationship-driven.
• Naturally curious and continuously seeking improvement opportunities.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Comfortable making decisions in a dynamic and fast-changing environment.
• Values quality, innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence.
• Thrives in a family-owned business culture that combines entrepreneurial spirit with long-term thinking.
• Enjoys building structure, creating clarity, and driving business performance through planning excellence.

SALARY & ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Highly competitive fixed and performance-based variable salary
• 27 vacation days per year (based on full-time employment)
• Employee discount on the entire company collection.