Demand Planner

The Demand Planner Junior role is structured around two main areas: Demand Planning and Business Analysis.

On the Demand Planning side, the role develops accurate demand forecasts for assigned product categories within the France market, based primarily on customer inputs and considering seasonal business and promotions. Forecasts are managed in APO in line with EU forecasting guidelines, with close collaboration across sales, marketing, finance, and supply teams to ensure plan execution, product availability, and inventory optimization. Performance is monitored through defined KPIs.

The Business Analysis component focuses on maintaining and developing reports on orders, inventory levels (including shortages), and stock or production changes, using advanced IT tools such as Excel and Power BI.

This position is part of the Garden Furniture Business Unit, with responsibility for demand planning for Keter France, and regular interaction with multiple international markets within the BU.

Key Responsibilities

The activities are examples; some activities will miss, some will be overcomplete. Individual agreements are set during goalsetting meetings.

Demand analysis:

• Building a valid sales forecast based on relevant customers' input.
• Mapping sales per customer group, branch, product, channel, etc.;
• Monitor forecast accuracy and identify root causes of variances; implement corrective actions.
• Analyze historical sales trends, delivery performance, seasonality, marketing campaigns, and customer buying patterns VS monthly budget assumptions to improve forecast reliability.
• Maintain demand planning systems and tools, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.

Create management reporting:

• Processing data from different systems.
• Setting up planning and analysis.
• Breaking down reporting.
• Prepare and present demand planning reports and KPIs to management.
• Identify risks and opportunities in demand plans and recommend mitigation strategies.

Organizational alignment:

• Collaborate with sales and product management to incorporate seasonal selections, and new product launches into forecasts.
• Work with production planning and procurement teams to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and supply capabilities.
• Lead monthly demand review meetings as part of the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Proactive cooperation and communication of improvement.
• Support colleagues with common daily activities and, whenever necessary, take over work in absence.
• Positive contribution to team and team atmosphere.
• Fulfill commitments, agreements and agreed obligations.

Safeguarding KPI's:

• Forecast Accuracy
• Service Level / OTIF
• E&O inventory level
• Inventory shortages

Responsible for reporting any risks and/or discrepancies for all of the above. Maintain expertise know-how and keep track of developments.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, Statistics, or related field.
• Open to junior profiles / recent graduates in Supply Chain or related fields with relevant internship experience (Up to 3 years of experience in a similar role is a plus)
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with proficiency in Excel and forecasting tools (e.g. SAP, APO, marketplace analytics tools).
• Ability to work with large datasets and translate data into actionable insights.
• Knowledge of demand planning best practices.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Microsoft Office Suite.
• Open for new Technologies and IT-Tools (e.g. EDB, PowerBI).
• Language: verbal and written: English (working languages) and mandatory French.

Behavioural Competencies

• Analytical and methodical with a creative approach to solutions.
• High attention to detail.
• Excellent time management competencies.
• High agility and prioritization competencies.
• Strong organisational and planning competencies to achieve targets.
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal; Confident communicator at all levels.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work with remote interaction with other members of the team.
• Embraces ownership and accountability.
• Demonstrates and actively promotes company values.