Plan and manage allocated supply chain resources and demand processes to ensure that customer service targets are met at a minimum operating cost, with optimum stock levels. Establish robust demand forecasts by using relevant statistical tools and market and sales information, such as planned sales orders, customer contracts, intercompany standing orders, promotional activity, seasonality, brand changes, etc. Cooperate with personnel (sales, marketing, customer service) to deliver accurate, demand-driven forecast plans. Conduct analysis of sales forecasts, together with marketing and finance insight; report on forecast accuracy; and coordinate updates by managing demand changes from key areas within the targeted business.
Demand Planner – Eastern Europe | Kraft Heinz
As a Demand Planner for our Eastern Europe business units, you will own demand and supply planning for a set of distributors. You’ll work closely with our sales teams and distributor partners to keep the supply chain running smoothly, challenging sell-out forecasts, building a strong sell-in plan, and coordinating with production and supply planning teams to ensure execution.
Because we operate in fast-growing emerging markets, a big part of this role is improving how we work: making planning processes stronger, simpler, and scalable. You’ll also act as a key business partner—using strong analysis, influence, and facilitation skills to deliver high-quality plans that support service level, inventory, and financial targets.
Role Objectives
- Challenge and improve sell-out forecast accuracy in cooperation with sales team.
- Build a strong sell-in forecast in cooperation with distributors.
- Develop strong working relationships with distributors’ operations teams.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen and scale demand planning tools and processes.
Role Responsibilities
Forecasting
- Partner with sales, marketing, distributors, and supply chain teams to challenge and align sell-out forecasts with business goals.
- Build and maintain SKU-level sell-in forecasts, based on agreed stock targets and aligned with the sell-out forecast.
- Prepare and lead monthly Demand Review meetings with designated distributors, driving alignment on the consensus forecast and supporting decision-making.
- Track and analyse forecast performance (e.g., Forecast Accuracy, Bias), identify root causes, and implement actions to improve results.
System Excellence
- Maintain planning master data, clean/correct historical data, and manage phase-in/phase-out timelines.
- Maintain forecasts and planning processes in the O9 system to ensure clear visibility for factories and supply planners.
Innovation & Portfolio
- Own supply execution for new product launches—challenge launch volume assumptions, ensure master data readiness, and monitor end-to-end execution.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
Attributes
- Curiosity: You’re eager to improve the way we work and open to using new tools and technologies.
- Accountability: You take ownership, dive deep into challenges and collaborate to get things done.
- Collaboration: You work well with key stakeholders to spot and act on business issues and opportunities. You enjoy winning as a team.
- Data & tech mindset: You value data and technology and understand how they can simplify work and unlock better insights.
Hard Skills
- Strong proficiency in Excel .
- Strong analytical skills, able to interpret complex data and turn it into clear actions and decisions.
- Solid understanding of core supply chain concepts and how they impact business performance.
- Knowledge of SAP and demand planning tools (e.g., o9 ) is a plus.
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 .
