Demand Planner

Overview

Lead the monthly demand planning cycle for the Chocolates category, generating a robust, data-driven forecast across SKUs, channels, customers, and regions, and drive the demand stream of the S&OP/IBP process.

What you'll do

• Lead the monthly demand planning cycle for the Chocolates category, generating a robust, data-driven forecast across SKUs, channels, customers, and regions.
• Use advanced statistical models and analytical tools to build, maintain, and continuously improve short-, medium-, and long-term forecasts.
• Own and drive improvements in forecast quality (accuracy, bias, fidelity, forecast value add), directly impacting service level, working capital, ageing, and cost-to-serve.
• Lead the demand stream of the S&OP/IBP process, running structured demand reviews and ensuring a single, aligned consensus forecast with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply.
• Translate commercial drivers (baseline, promotions, activations, NPD, price changes, distribution expansion, mix changes) into clear demand signals and scenarios.
• Partner closely with Revenue Growth Management, Category, and Sales teams to understand elasticity, ATL/BTL plans, seasonality, and demand-shaping actions and reflect these in the demand plan.
• Monitor and report key KPIs such as forecast accuracy and bias, case fill rate, OTIF, inventory turns, ageing, and write-offs; conduct root-cause analysis and lead corrective action plans.
• Manage and continuously improve S&OE/ITP processes to connect weekly execution with the medium-term demand plan, proactively addressing risks and opportunities.
• Champion the deployment and enhancement of advanced planning systems (e.g., o9, SAP IBP, APO, Anaplan), including adoption of AI/ML-based forecasting where relevant.
• Lead or support core implementation projects for demand planning / IBP solutions, working with IT and global/regional teams.
• Build forecasting and demand planning capability across the broader team through coaching, best-practice sharing, and process standardization.
• Provide clear, insight-driven narratives to senior leadership on demand risks, opportunities, and scenario impacts on service, revenue, and working capital.
• Ensure differentiated planning approaches for emerging channels such as Q-Commerce, E-commerce, and Omni-channel retail, reflecting their unique demand patterns and volatility.

What you'll need

• 8-10 years of hard-core Demand Planning / IBP / S&OP experience in FMCG food categories, with a demonstrable track record of impact on service, inventory, and cost.
• Advanced understanding of demand (baseline, elasticity, ATL/BTL, seasonality, demand shaping) and strong business acumen to make sense of RTM, RGM, distribution, offtakes, and trade pipelines.
• Experience handling all categories or a major flagship category of roughly $1.5 bn revenue and a minimum of 500 SKUs.
• Background in leading MNC organizations.
• Proven o9 implementation experience: core design, configuration, testing, and deployment for demand planning / IBP.
• Solid foundation in AI/ML and statistical forecasting models, with the ability to select and apply the right model by segment and horizon.
• Clear, practical understanding of forecast quality metrics (accuracy, bias, fidelity, FVA) and their impact on service levels, working capital, and cost.
• Solid understanding and hands-on experience of the 5-step Oliver Wight IBP process, including running mature IBP/S&OP cycles.
• Hands-on expertise in running S&OE / ITP processes that connect operational execution with the tactical demand plan.
• Superior communication skills, capable of leading and steering consensus meetings with Commercial, Finance, and Supply Chain stakeholders.
• Exposure to and understanding of demand dynamics in Q-Commerce, E-commerce, and Omni-channel, and how these influence planning strategies.
• Postgraduate degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Statistics, or Business Management.
• Strong command of advanced planning tools (o9, SAP IBP, APO, Anaplan, or similar) and high proficiency in Excel and data analytics.
• Strong commercial orientation with the ability to link demand plans to P&L, pricing, trade investments, and portfolio decisions.
• High learning agility, problem-solving orientation, and comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced FMCG environment.

Nice to have

• Background in leading MNC organizations; a mix of MBB consulting plus industry experience.

Details

• Location: Mumbai, India.
• Job type: Regular.
• Within-country relocation support available; minimal support offered for voluntary international transfer under the Volunteer International Transfer Policy.