Head of Demand Planning

The Head of Demand Planning is responsible for establishing the vision, strategy, and execution framework for the organization's demand planning function. This role serves as the executive owner of the enterprise demand forecasting process, ensuring alignment across Commercial, Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.

You will be accountable for driving forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, and service performance while advancing planning capabilities that support long-term business growth. You will lead a high-performing planning organization, strengthen cross-functional business processes, and provide strategic insights that influence key decisions across the enterprise.

Success in this role requires exceptional leadership, strong business acumen, advanced analytical capabilities, and the ability to build alignment among senior stakeholders in a complex and dynamic environment.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of demand planning within a growing and evolving organization. The Head of Demand Planning will play a pivotal role in connecting commercial strategy, financial objectives, and operational execution through an integrated planning approach.

Working closely with senior leaders across the business, you will help drive smarter decision-making, improve organizational alignment, and develop scalable processes that support sustainable growth. The role offers the opportunity to make a significant enterprise-wide impact while building a best-in-class planning function and developing future talent.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Planning Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute the organization's demand planning strategy, forecasting methodologies, planning policies, and governance framework.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing demand planning organization while establishing planning standards, accountability, and professional development programs.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and data-driven decision making.
• Establish and maintain forecasting best practices across product categories, channels, and business segments.
• Develop long-term capability roadmaps focused on planning process maturity, analytics, technology, and organizational effectiveness.

S&OP / Integrated Business Planning

• Lead the demand planning pillar of the S&OP/Integrated Business Planning process.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment around a single consensus demand plan.
• Drive executive discussions regarding demand trends, opportunities, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Partner with business leaders to balance growth objectives, inventory investments, capacity constraints, and service expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning process effectiveness and organizational alignment.

Forecasting & Business Performance

• Oversee the development and management of short-, medium-, and long-range demand forecasts.
• Ensure forecasts appropriately incorporate market conditions, promotional activity, pricing actions, innovation pipelines, and customer initiatives.
• Drive improvement in forecast accuracy, forecast bias, inventory productivity, and customer service metrics.
• Utilize advanced analytics, scenario modeling, and sensitivity analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Establish executive-level KPI reporting and performance dashboards.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted business partner to Commercial, Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain leadership.
• Translate business strategies into actionable demand plans that support organizational goals.
• Support annual operating plans, financial forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning efforts.
• Facilitate alignment between demand planning and supply planning to optimize inventory, customer service, and operational performance.
• Influence decision-making and build consensus among senior stakeholders.

Systems, Analytics & Process Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement efforts related to forecasting processes, planning technologies, and analytical capabilities.
• Champion the adoption of advanced planning methodologies and automation opportunities.
• Establish strong data governance and reporting frameworks to support planning effectiveness.
• Lead planning system enhancements and future technology initiatives.
• Ensure planning processes remain scalable and aligned with evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Analytics, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain planning, or integrated business planning.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing and developing professional teams.
• Experience within consumer products, retail, manufacturing, distribution, or other high-volume product environments.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise S&OP and/or Integrated Business Planning processes.
• Deep expertise in forecasting methodologies, demand analytics, lifecycle planning, and promotional forecasting.
• Strong knowledge of inventory management, supply chain operations, and planning best practices.
• Proven ability to influence senior and executive-level stakeholders.
• Experience driving organizational change and process improvement initiatives.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to connect planning decisions to broader business outcomes.

Expectations

• Hybrid work environment.
• Limited travel as required for business initiatives and leadership meetings.

Confidential Position Note

This is a confidential leadership opportunity focused on advancing demand planning capabilities, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and supporting future business growth. Additional details regarding organizational structure, reporting relationships, and business scope will be shared during the interview process.