Demand Planner UK & Ireland

MGA Entertainment, Inc.; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company seeks a Demand Planner to take ownership of forecasting and demand analysis. The ideal candidate will develop accurate demand forecasts and work collaboratively across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance. Key responsibilities include monitoring forecast accuracy, analyzing market trends, and leading the demand review process. The role requires strong analytical abilities, excellent communication skills, and experience with tools like D365 and Power BI. This position offers a strategic opportunity to influence business outcomes and drive success.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain analytics.
• Background in consumer goods, retail, or manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Ability to interpret large datasets and convert insights into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of short-, medium-, and long-term demand forecasts.
• Monitor sell-in and sell-through performance.
• Prepare and present insights to senior leadership.

Skills

Analytical capability

Influencing stakeholders

Forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Economics, or related field

Master’s degree

Tools

D365

Power BI

Logility

Excel

Job description

As a Demand Planner, you will take ownership of forecasting, demand analysis, and cross-functional planning. You will develop accurate short-, medium-, and long-range forecasts, blending statistical modelling with business intelligence. This role requires strong analytical capabilities, confidence to challenge assumptions, and the ability to influence key stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance.

You will lead the S&OP/SNLP demand review process, ensure alignment across functions, monitor sell-in and sell-through performance, and anticipate risks and opportunities that impact business outcomes. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, understands consumer and retail dynamics, and wants to play a strategic role in driving the business forward.

Authority

Reporting to: Senior Manager – Demand Planning EMEA

Works closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance as a key strategic planning partner.

Key Result Areas and Activities

Forecasting & Demand Planning

• Lead development of short-, medium-, and long-term demand forecasts at SKU, brand, and account level.
• Build, maintain, and refine statistical forecast models.
• Integrate customer intelligence, market trends, promotions, and new product introduction plans into the forecast.
• Track and analyse forecast accuracy, bias, and key performance indicators, implementing action plans for continuous improvement.

Sales, Market & Inventory Insights

• Monitor sell-in, sell-through, and inventory performance to identify risks, gaps, and upside opportunities.
• Analyse POS, syndicated data, and customer replenishment systems to enhance forecast quality.
• Anticipate market changes, seasonality, consumer behavior shifts, and lifecycle trends to proactively shape demand outlook.
• Provide data-driven recommendations on assortment rationalisation, exit strategies, and inventory health.

S&OP / SNLP & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Own the demand review process within S&OP/SNLP, preparing and presenting insights, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Planning to ensure alignment on assumptions, promotional plans, and revenue expectations.
• Translate the demand plan into actionable supply requirements in collaboration with supply planning.

Reporting, Tools & Analytics

• Create dashboards, scorecards, and in-depth analyses to support leadership visibility.
• Provide detailed reporting on forecast performance, event lifts, demand trends, and business risks.
• Act as a subject matter expert on forecasting systems and processes.
• Train or coach junior team members where needed.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Economics, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years’ experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain analytics.
• Knowledge of D365, Power BI (PBI), and Logility are preferred.
• Strong analytical capability with advanced Excel and experience in forecasting/planning tools.
• Background in consumer goods, retail, or manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Ability to interpret large datasets and convert insights into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, including confidence presenting to senior leaders.
• Proven ability to influence across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Operations.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Demand Planner will:

• Build trust and credibility with cross-functional partners.
• Deliver consistently accurate forecasts with strong rationale.
• Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities early—before they impact the business.
• Support faster, smarter decision-making through clear insights and strong planning discipline.
• Help the organization improve forecasting maturity, alignment, and responsiveness.