Head of Demand Planning

Role Responsibilities

Forecasting

• Coach and mentor a team of four demand planners, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and analytical thinking
• Lead the monthly S&OP process, ensuring cross-functional alignment on demand forecasts, supply plans, and inventory targets
• Lead the build and roll-out of the Global IBP program in Benelux
• Drive the development and implementation of innovative demand planning strategies, ensuring the organization remains agile and responsive to market changes
• Conduct "what-if" analysis and scenario planning to prepare for market volatility and potential risks
• Communicate critical exceptions to plans, providing strategic insights and recommendations to address potential issues and mitigate risks

Innovation & Portfolio

• Provide accurate forecasts and volume plans for new product launches, taking into account market trends, seasonality etc.
• Ensure that the production and distribution plans are feasible and aligned with the forecasted demand
• Closely monitor the launch progress, identify any deviations from the plan, and make adjustments to the forecast and supply chain plans as needed
• Analyse sales data, market trends, and other factors to identify products that are no longer viable or are underperforming
• Work with supply planning to manage inventory levels of products being delisted, ensuring that stock levels are minimized and excess inventory is cleared

Digitalization

• Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of 09 parameters, ensuring they align with Benelux and wider organizational objectives
• Work with global teams to ensure that digital capabilities are designed considering user needs and that digital tools are successfully implemented

Supply Chain Losses

• Provide accurate forecasts to ensure that production and inventory levels are aligned with actual demand, minimizing the risk of overstocking
• Conduct root cause analysis to identify the reasons for write-offs and work with other teams to implement actions to prevent future write-offs
• Develop strategies to exit inventory that is no longer needed or is obsolete, such as clearance sales, donations, or recycling,

What You’ll Need to Succeed

Attributes

• Innovative Thinking: You bring innovative solutions to complex business challenges and help customers understand what is possible through our customer and logistics capabilities
• Curiosity: A high level of curiosity to embrace continuous improvement and leverage new technologies
• Accountability: You dive deep into challenges and problems, you keep your focus on results, and you effectively collaborate to get the job done
• Collaborative: Working across key business stakeholders to identify and action business issues / opportunities. You love to win and have fun doing it
• Data and technology acumen: You understand the power of data and technology and see how this can increasingly simplify our work & bring better insights

Hard Skills

• Advanced proficiency in demand planning software and tools, such as 09, SAP APO or similar systems
• Strong data analysis and statistical skills, with experience working with large datasets and data visualization tools
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles and operations, including inventory management, logistics, and distribution
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to align commercial, supply chain, and leadership teams around shared demand planning priorities and decisions
• Proven people leadership skills, with experience managing, coaching, and developing high-performing teams while creating clear ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement

Location(s)

Amsterdam

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.