Head of Demand Planning

Job Description Head of Demand Planning

Role Mission

The Demand Planning Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping our end-to-end supply chain strategy. Responsible for driving the alignment of demand planning processes with organizational goals, to achieve optimal business performance. The role ensures agile and resilient supply chain operations that support sustainable growth and operational excellence in our Benelux market.

Role Objectives

• Enhance forecast accuracy to deliver accurate and reliable forecasts that drive business decisions
• Maximize service levels to ensure that customer demand is met, while minimizing stockouts
• Minimize supply chain costs by aligning supply with demand to optimize production and minimize excess inventory
• Enhance collaboration by working closely with cross-functional teams, to ensure alignment on demand planning decisions

Role Responsibilities

Forecasting

• Coach and mentor a team of four demand planners, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and analytical thinking
• Lead the monthly S&OP process, ensuring cross-functional alignment on demand forecasts, supply plans, and inventory targets
• Lead the build and roll-out of the Global IBP program in Benelux
• Drive the development and implementation of innovative demand planning strategies, ensuring the organization remains agile and responsive to market changes
• Conduct "what-if" analysis and scenario planning to prepare for market volatility and potential risks
• Communicate critical exceptions to plans, providing strategic insights and recommendations to address potential issues and mitigate risks

Innovation & Portfolio

• Provide accurate forecasts and volume plans for new product launches, taking into account market trends, seasonality etc.
• Ensure that the production and distribution plans are feasible and aligned with the forecasted demand
• Closely monitor the launch progress, identify any deviations from the plan, and make adjustments to the forecast and supply chain plans as needed
• Analyse sales data, market trends, and other factors to identify products that are no longer viable or are underperforming
• Work with supply planning to manage inventory levels of products being delisted, ensuring that stock levels are minimized and excess inventory is cleared

Digitalization

• Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of 09 parameters, ensuring they align with Benelux and wider organizational objectives
• Work with global teams to ensure that digital capabilities are designed considering user needs and that digital tools are successfully implemented

Supply Chain Losses

• Provide accurate forecasts to ensure that production and inventory levels are aligned with actual demand, minimizing the risk of overstocking
• Conduct root cause analysis to identify the reasons for write-offs and work with other teams to implement actions to prevent future write-offs
• Develop strategies to exit inventory that is no longer needed or is obsolete, such as clearance sales, donations, or recycling,

What You’ll Need to Succeed

Attributes

• Innovative Thinking: You bring innovative solutions to complex business challenges and help customers understand what is possible through our customer and logistics capabilities
• Curiosity: A high level of curiosity to embrace continuous improvement and leverage new technologies
• Accountability: You dive deep into challenges and problems, you keep your focus on results, and you effectively collaborate to get the job done
• Collaborative: Working across key business stakeholders to identify and action business issues / opportunities. You love to win and have fun doing it
• Data and technology acumen: You understand the power of data and technology and see how this can increasingly simplify our work & bring better insights

Hard Skills

• Advanced proficiency in demand planning software and tools, such as 09, SAP APO or similar systems
• Strong data analysis and statistical skills, with experience working with large datasets and data visualization tools
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles and operations, including inventory management, logistics, and distribution
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to align commercial, supply chain, and leadership teams around shared demand planning priorities and decisions
• Proven people leadership skills, with experience managing, coaching, and developing high-performing teams while creating clear ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.