Job Description

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Customer Demand Manager UKI

Location: Slough

About the role

As a Customer Demand Manager UKI, you’ll play a key role in driving effective demand planning across the UK&I business.

You’ll be the accountable point of contact for all demand-related topics, leading and managing a team of Demand Planners and working closely with commercial and supply chain stakeholders to ensure we have accurate demand plans and can continue to deliver an excellent service to our customers.

This is a highly collaborative role where you’ll combine strong analytical capability with commercial understanding, stakeholder management and a continuous improvement mindset.

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage Demand Planning activities across the UK&I business, ensuring effective 2–36 month demand forecasting and that the Demand Management Review process is operating effectively.
• Be accountable for forecast accuracy and bias performance across the UK&I business.
• Lead and develop a team of Demand Planners, creating a high-performing team with strong demand planning behaviours and capabilities.
• Translate Sales and Marketing plans into robust Sales Demand Plans using forecasting systems, statistical tools and relevant market intelligence.
• Build and refine monthly forecasts, incorporating the latest business and market information.
• Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Business Managers and Supply Chain teams to identify and address gaps between target and unconstrained demand.
• Ensure Sales and Account Managers provide the necessary input to enrich forecasts in a timely way.
• Support and contribute to the IBP process, including driving the Demand Management Review.
• Monitor and report key demand KPIs including Forecast Accuracy, Bias, Vulnerabilities and Opportunities.
• Ensure forecasts are accurately uploaded to enable effective MRP and supply planning.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve forecasting processes, systems and ways of working.
• Lead projects designed to improve customer satisfaction and drive continuous improvement across the UK&I business.
• Support the deployment of regional Demand Planning initiatives and promote best practice.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure appropriate customer segmentation, replenishment models and service levels are in place.
• Oversee an effective SLOB (Slow Moving and Obsolete) process.
• Investigate and resolve issues relating to customer satisfaction, working collaboratively across the organisation to deliver sustainable improvements.

What you'll bring

We’re looking for an experienced Demand Planning professional who can combine strong analytical and forecasting expertise with excellent stakeholder management and commercial awareness.

You’ll ideally have:

• A degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business Administration, Science or a related discipline.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently and make informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across different functions and levels.
• Strong business acumen and an understanding of both internal and external customer requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong coordination and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple requirements and deliver end-to-end solutions.
• Experience working with ERP and forecasting systems such as SAP, Oracle or JDA, alongside strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent English skills.

Why AkzoNobel?

At AkzoNobel, we’re passionate about creating possibilities. From the paints that bring colour to people's homes to the coatings that protect everything from buildings to aircraft, our products play an important role in everyday life.

You’ll join a global organisation where collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement are part of how we work. This is an opportunity to make a real impact across our UK&I business, working with colleagues across commercial, supply chain and demand planning teams.

If you’re an experienced Demand Planning professional looking for a role where you can influence business performance, develop people and drive better ways of working, we’d love to hear from you.

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For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

© 2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

Requisition ID: 54432