Job title: WBC Europe – Demand Planner
Location: 100VE / Kingston
Function: Supply Chain
Reports to: WBC Europe – Supply Chain Manager
JOB PURPOSE
The Wellbeing Collective Europe – Demand Planner will lead demand planning & operations for all of our Wellbeing brands in UK & Europe, reporting to the WBC Europe Supply Chain Manager.
The role comes at an exciting time where the WBC International organization & footprint continues to grow exponentially (more cells, more markets), from which we have identified Europe as our priority market for future expansion. Therefore, there is a need to further beef up and strengthen our Go-To-Market / Integrated Planning capability, with dedicated focus on our Wellbeing brands.
Our business today is a ~€10m (FY25) turnover in size, UKI, Italy and Netherlands (E-comm only), but with ambitions to grow to a €30-50m business by 2030, through growth in our existing markets, but as well as launching a pan-European Amazon business in 2026. Our pan-EU approach is through the utilization of the Unilever Europe Sales Org (UESO) legal entity created through project Spark. The immediate 2026 pan-European markets in consideration are Germany & Spain, and if successful, will further roll out into more EU markets through the UESO hub. The brand focus at the moment is Liquid IV, but may include other Wellbeing brands of OLLY & Nutrafol in the future (all Unilever Power Brands).
The role will be fully responsible for day-to-day demand planning for the scope of WBC Europe – offline retail, & E-comm. Primary responsibility is to lead the demand planning process and business partner with our commercial team in the S&OP process – across regular and NPD/innovation SKUs; to ensure service DR% delivery, with efficient cash (inventory) and cost (BW%TO) through high forecast accuracy and low bias.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Focus on demand creation within the business teams (Marketing, CSP, Finance) supporting in clarification of the forecast, gaps to targets and trade-off decisions for activities
• Facilitate rolling volume forecast with its challenges of innovation & promotions in a new, volatile and competitive category
• Work with business teams to build SKU level volume forecasting, cash up process and evaluate any volume/value disconnect with CSP & Finance teams
• Ensure the transparency on the forecast hypothesis for an effective Risk & Opps management on supply
• Running operational demand planning looking at masterdata hygiene, managing code change, check and adjust for short team trends and long-term strategies
• Actively taking part in the RCCP (Rough Cut Capacity Planning) with the supply planning team
• Manage constraints with:
- Historical analysis – ensure learnings are identified and if predictions were correct
- Rolling Reviewing if plans are developing as expected and if any adjustments need to be made
- Assess any risks to the plan and potential mitigation scenarios.
- Be change agent on implementation of new technologies and planning tools.
• Core KPI for the role:
- Service/DR%
- Forecast Accuracy, Forecast Bias,
- Business Waste as %TOBalance FA/FB and service KPI to support business growth
• Lead FA/FB management/governance to develop clearance and action plans with cross functional team (Supply Planning, CD, Marketing)
• Lead Business Waste management/governance to develop clearance and action plans for SLOBs with cross functional team (Supply Planning, CD, marketing, Finance)
• Manage DR% together with customer service, and customer teams
• Review if targets are being met, identifying root causes for gaps and potential mitigation.
ALL ABOUT YOU
• Proven experience in Demand Planning.
• Have worked in GTM Planning or Customer Operations – Integrated Planning function
• Experience with SAP ERP, Kinaxis Rapid Response is required
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Any additional languages would be a bonus.
• Experience or knowledge in the UK/EU supply chain model or prior working experience within UEBV would be useful
• Strong understanding of Supply Chain Cost structure and its impact on the P&L. Reasonable understanding of P&L shape.
• Comfortable to work remotely, in a global team based across multiple geographies. Experience working internationally and in virtual teams would be beneficial.
• Dynamic and globally-minded, self-starter personality
• Agile and problem-solving mindset with strong ability to simplify complex problems to actionable plans
• Ability to absorb, analyze and process large quantities of disparate information and synthesize quickly with attention to detail.
• Fast paced and comfortable working in an environment with tight deadlines and significant level of ambiguity and change
• Exceptional strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to operate at all organization levels
• Attention to detail, excellent organization and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to present information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to think flexibly in order to meet constantly shifting priorities and timelines and to independently provide solutions to issues.
• Problem-solving, troubleshooting skills and ability to find creative solutions
• Excellent interpersonal communications, organizational, and presentation skills
• Superior negotiation and influencing skills
• Fluent in MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint
Location
In September 2020, Unilever announced the intention to build a new sustainable campus site in Kingston, London to house the employees who currently work in 100 Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars, Lever House in Kingston, Unilever House in Leatherhead and Graze in Richmond. We are creating our own Unilever sustainable, agile work environment, purposefully bringing us together in our own Unilever ecosystem. The campus is due to be completed in early 2025 and will consist of two interconnected buildings, as well as landscaped surrounding areas.
What We Offer
Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, free gym, a discounted staff shop and shares. You'll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.
Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.
Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, click here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
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