Demand Planning Analyst (12 month FTC)

Job Location: Greenford, London

Company Description

Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella, Tic Tac, Ferrero Rocher, Raffaello, Kinder Bueno and Kinder Surprise. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 40,000 dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.

Diversity Statement

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Demand Planning Analyst on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract to support our Demand Planner in consolidating long-term demand plans as part of our Sales & Operating Planning process, with a focus on transitioning to fully integrated business planning. This role is crucial in optimising weekly demand to ensure product availability and freshness.

You will analyse long-term forecasts, working closely with sales teams, Brand and Trade Marketing, and business plans to assess performance, track opportunities, and provide visibility on product demand. The role involves shaping forecasts from 3 months to 3 years out, participating in monthly reviews, and aligning demand and supply processes to meet budget goals and support the broader supply chain strategy

Main Responsibilities:

As a key member of the Demand Team, the Demand Planning Analyst is responsible for linking Demand Planning, Product Supply, and Demand Control to assess demand, availability, freshness, and product risk. You will formalise and assess the demand plan in collaboration with marketing and sales teams, ensuring visibility and granularity for effective supply chain planning. This includes managing seasonal and promotional specialties to meet customer volume requirements and aligning forecasts with brand and sales plans.

You will work closely with the Customer Supply Manager and various teams across sales, marketing, and supply chain to ensure accurate demand signals and visibility across the supply chain. This involves contributing to the consensus demand plan, managing monthly forecast processes, and attending key operational and demand consensus meetings to identify risks and opportunities. Your role includes influencing decisions across teams to ensure that the demand plan meets business expectations and drives forecast accuracy.

The role involves analysing sales data, historical trends, and promotional impacts to adjust future estimations and improve forecast accuracy. You will manage and optimise APO functionality, utilise forecasting tools, and develop BI/XL Cubed reports to support demand analysis. Regular performance reporting against KPIs, such as forecast accuracy and product development metrics, is also a critical part of the role, ensuring that any underperformance is addressed promptly and effectively.

Who we are looking for:

The ideal candidate must have strong forecasting experience and be proficient in technical systems, particularly SAP. Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical abilities are essential for managing and analysing demand data effectively.

Additionally, you should possess strong influencing skills, capable of engaging stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment and accuracy in demand planning.

Experience in an FMCG or retail environment is advantageous, providing valuable context and insight into the fast-paced and dynamic nature of demand planning in these sector s

How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:

Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world.