Demand Planner

Job summary:

Responsible for developing, maintaining and continuously improving accurate demand forecasts for assigned customer accounts, enabling optimal inventory levels, high service performance and cost-efficient supply chain operations. Works closely with Operations, Procurement, Commercial, Supply Planning and customers to build consensus demand plans, manage forecasting exceptions and translate business insights into actionable planning decisions. Utilizes statistical, AI-supported and business-driven forecasting methodologies to improve forecast accuracy, inventory optimization and overall supply chain performance.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Own and maintain accurate demand forecasts for assigned customer accounts, ensuring alignment with agreed planning cycles, replenishment strategies and business priorities.
• Develop baseline forecasts using historical demand, customer input, menu and product changes, seasonality, promotional activities and operational events.
• Leverage statistical, AI-supported and business-driven forecasting tools to generate forecasts, identify demand patterns, detect anomalies and recommend forecast adjustments where appropriate.
• Maintain planning parameters, forecast assumptions and master data, ensuring data accuracy, consistency and integrity across planning systems.
• Manage demand planning exceptions, proactively resolving issues related to product lifecycle changes, customer initiatives, inventory constraints and supply risks.
• Monitor and analyze demand planning KPIs, including forecast accuracy, forecast bias, forecast value add (FVA), inventory levels, service performance, waste and stock risks.
• Perform root cause analysis of forecast deviations and recommend corrective actions to continuously improve planning accuracy and operational performance.
• Prepare and present demand planning reports, dashboards and performance analyses, providing actionable insights to support business decision-making.
• Support the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) / Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process, preparing demand scenarios and contributing to consensus planning activities.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Procurement, Commercial, Supply Planning and customers, ensuring alignment between demand forecasts, supply capabilities and customer expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, reporting and forecasting methodologies, contributing to automation, standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with planning governance, master data standards and supply chain processes, supporting efficient and reliable business operations.

Core Competencies and Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Analytics or a related discipline.
• APICS/ASCM, IBF, CPIM or other planning certification is considered an advantage.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in Demand Planning, Forecasting, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory Management or a related supply chain function.
• Experience working with statistical forecasting, planning systems and data analysis.
• Experience collaborating within cross-functional and international business environments.
• Understanding of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and inventory management principles is an advantage.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, modelling and reporting.
• Experience with ERP, MRP and Demand Planning systems.
• Working knowledge of Power BI or other business intelligence and visualization tools.
• Understanding of statistical forecasting methodologies, forecast KPIs (MAPE, WMAPE, Bias, FVA) and AI-supported forecasting solutions.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken. German language skills would be desirable and considered an advantage,