Head of Demand Planning

Job Description

Head of Demand Planning

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Harlow, Essex | Hybrid Working
\n Competitive Salary + Excellent Benefits

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We're partnering with a globally recognised brand within the premium interior design industry to recruit a Head of Demand Planning. Renowned for quality, innovation and exceptional product design, the business supplies customers across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia and continues to experience strong international growth.

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This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of the global demand planning function within a complex, multi-region business. Whether you're already operating at Head of level or you're an experienced Demand Planner, Supply Chain Planner or Procurement professional looking for your next step, this role offers genuine autonomy, strategic influence and the opportunity to shape the future direction of the planning function.

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The Role

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Reporting to the Director of Operations, you'll own the end-to-end demand planning and inventory strategy across multiple international markets, ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time to support commercial performance.

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Leading the monthly S&OP process, you'll work closely with Sales, Purchasing, Finance and New Product Development to improve forecast accuracy, optimise inventory and support commercial decision-making. This is a highly analytical role that requires someone who can interpret complex data, understand the bigger picture and confidently influence stakeholders across the business.

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You'll provide strategic direction to a small, autonomous team, ensuring planning activities align with business objectives while driving continuous improvement across processes, systems and reporting.

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Key Responsibilities

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• Own and lead the end-to-end monthly S&OP process
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• Develop demand forecasts and inventory plans across multiple international regions and sales channels
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• Ensure inventory availability supports sales while balancing service levels and working capital
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• Produce forecasting, inventory and performance reporting for senior stakeholders
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• Analyse inventory risk, forecast accuracy and stock performance to support commercial decision-making
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• Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce inventory risk and enhance planning performance
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• Partner with Sales, Purchasing, Finance and NPD to support business growth
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• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the demand planning team
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• Drive continuous improvement across planning systems, reporting and processes
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About You

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You'll have proven experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, S&OP or a planning-focused procurement role within a product-based business where forecasting and inventory planning are business critical.

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You'll be commercially minded, highly analytical and comfortable planning across complex supply chains, ideally spanning multiple distribution centres or international markets. More importantly, you'll be able to see beyond the data, identifying opportunities to improve service, optimise inventory and positively impact business performance.

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We're particularly interested in candidates who bring:

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• Experience within a manufacturing, distribution, retail or product-led environment
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• Strong demand planning, inventory planning or S&OP experience
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• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with ERP or demand planning systems
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• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
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• A strategic mindset with strong commercial awareness
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• Experience planning across multiple regions, channels or distribution centres
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Exposure to retail, merchandising, interiors, homewares or other complex product-based environments would be advantageous, as would experience with dedicated demand planning software such as Slim4 or data visualisation tools including Power BI.

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Why Apply?

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This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful international brand in a role offering genuine ownership, strategic influence and long-term career progression. You'll have the autonomy to shape the planning function, influence business decisions and play a key role in supporting the company's continued international growth.

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The role offers hybrid working, an excellent benefits package and the opportunity to make a real impact within a collaborative and forward-thinking business.

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Zero Surplus is one of the UK's premier recruitment agencies. Based just outside Cambridge, our recruiters source staff for small and international businesses across the South of England.

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For registration purposes, please let us know where you are currently based or which locations you are considering, along with your required salary and notice period.

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