Demand Planning Manager - FMCG/FMCD

• Job Title - Demand Planning Manager
• Location Mumbai, India
• Experience - 12-15 Years

Role Summary:

We are seeking a seasoned Demand Planning Manager to lead end-to-end demand planning, forecasting, and S&OP processes for the European region. The role will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and regional leadership to drive forecast accuracy, inventory optimization, and customer service excellence across diverse European markets.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience managing Europe, understands regional market complexities and culture, and has operated in matrix/global environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Demand Planning & Forecasting:

• Lead end-to-end demand planning across current, new, seasonal, and promotional SKUs
• Develop and maintain statistical forecasting models, incorporating historical data, seasonality, market trends, and business intelligence
• Own forecast accuracy (MAPE), bias reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Manage short-term (03 months) and long-term demand horizons (12-24 months)

S&OP / IBP Leadership:

• Drive monthly S&OP / Integrated Business Planning cycles
• Facilitate cross-functional consensus meetings with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Operations
• Translate sales and market insights into executable demand plans
• Provide scenario planning, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies

Stakeholder & Regional Management:

• Act as the primary demand planning partner for commercial teams
• Collaborate with regional sales leaders on promotions, NPI launches, and market shifts
• Navigate market nuances, cultural differences, and country-level complexity
• Influence without authority in a matrixed global organization

Analytics, Systems & Digital Enablement:

• Leverage advanced planning systems such as SAP APO or equivalent tools
• Develop dashboards, KPIs, and executive-ready reporting for decision-making
• Contribute to process automation, digital transformation, and data-quality improvements
• Use analytics to identify root causes for forecast errors and demand volatility

Inventory & Business Impact:

• Partner with supply planning to balance service levels and inventory targets
• Support working capital optimization and OTIF/service-level improvements
• Highlight risks/opportunities related to demand variability and supply constraints

Team & Change Management:

• Mentor and guide demand planners or regional planning teams (directly or indirectly)
• Support training, onboarding, and best-practice standardization
• Drive change management and continuous improvement initiatives

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• MBA or Masters in Supply Chain, Operations, or related field (preferred)
• Engineering or quantitative background is an advantage

Experience:

• 12-15 years overall experience in Supply Chain / Planning
• 5+ years specifically in Demand Planning / Forecasting / S&OP
• Background in FMCG, Pharma, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, or similar industries
• Experience working with global stakeholders across multiple time zones

Technical Skills:

• Strong expertise in SAP APO / SAP IBP (or similar planning tools)
• Advanced Excel, Power BI, or equivalent analytics tools
• Experience with forecasting models, KPIs, and performance metrics

Behavioral & Cultural Fit:

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable working with global business culture and decision styles
• Analytical, structured, and detail-oriented
• Proactive, independent, and resilient in dynamic environments

Preferred Attributes:

• Hands-on experience working remotely with global leadership
• Exposure to multi-country demand planning complexity
• Experience driving S&OP maturity and IBP transformation