Demand Planner (Retail)

The Demand Planner is responsible for forecasting demand for products, collaborating with buying, merchandising, supply chain, and operations to ensure optimal inventory levels across stores and channels. The goal is to balance product availability, minimize stockouts and overstocks, reduce inventory costs, and improve service levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop accurate short-term and long-term demand forecasts for all product categories (e.g. cosmetics, fashion accessories, toys, etc.), using statistical tools and business inputs.
• Monitor, analyze, and interpret sales trends, promotions, seasonality, new product introductions, and external factors (e.g. holidays, economic conditions) that affect demand.
• Work closely with merchandisers, category managers, marketing, operations, and supply chain to incorporate qualitative inputs (e.g. planned promotions, marketing campaigns, store openings) into demand planning.
• Maintain demand planning models and tools; refine forecasting methods (e.g. time-series models, causal models) to improve accuracy.
• Perform regular forecast accuracy reviews (e.g. forecast vs actual), measure and report forecast error metrics (e.g. MAD, MAPE), identify root causes of variance, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support the new product launch process by forecasting demand, phasing inventory, and mitigating risks (slow movers, markdowns).
• Provide business insights and reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly) to senior management on demand trends, inventory health, and planning performance.
• Ensure demand plans align with financial targets and company objectives (sales, margin, inventory turns).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or a related field.
• 3-5+ years of experience in demand planning / forecasting in retail or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), preferably with multiple product categories.
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable working with large datasets. Advanced Excel skills
• Good understanding of supply chain concepts: lead times, safety stock, replenishment, inventory turnover.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Application Question(s):

• What is your Notice Period?
• What is your expected Salary?