Expert Customer Supply Chain & Demand Planning (all genders)
Job Description
The Expert Customer Supply Chain & Demand Planning plays a key role in ensuring the optimal availability, service levels, and supply chain performance of METRO Common Sourcing products across international markets.
Acting as the interface between METRO countries, Global Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, and customers, the role combines customer supply chain management with demand planning responsibilities to drive forecast accuracy, inventory optimization, and operational excellence. Through data-driven analysis, proactive stakeholder management, and continuous performance improvement, the position supports efficient end-to-end supply chain execution while enhancing product availability and customer satisfaction.
As part of our future organization, the role contributes to the development of centralized demand planning and integrated business planning capabilities, helping transform supply chain decision-making from operational execution toward proactive, insight-driven planning. This includes supporting forecasting processes, inventory health management, demand and supply alignment, and the implementation of advanced planning tools and methodologies. The role therefore provides a strong foundation for future development into Global Demand Planning and Integrated Business Planning functions.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead forecasting reviews with assigned countries: Review baseline forecasts with countries, challenge assumptions, identify demand risks and opportunities, and ensure alignment with commercial and supply planning objectives.
- Inventory and stock optimization: Analyze inventory performance, stock days, forecast coverage, excess inventory, and slow movers, proposing actions to optimize working capital while maintaining target service levels
- Demand analytics: Utilize advanced analytical tools and planning systems to identify demand patterns, forecast biases, and root causes of forecast deviations.
- Integrated Business Planning: Support monthly demand and supply review cycles by providing insights on forecast evolution, product availability risks, and mitigation actions.
- Scenario planning: Develop demand scenarios and assess potential supply chain impacts resulting from promotions, assortment changes, market trends, or supply disruptions.
- Product lifecycle planning: Coordinate demand planning activities for new product launches, range changes, phase-in/phase-out initiatives, and seasonal products.
- Data & Systems Ownership: Act as super-user and key business contributor for planning tools and systems, supporting continuous improvement of forecasting methodologies, master data quality, and planning parameters.
- KPI Accountability: Monitor and drive improvements in key supply chain KPIs including Forecast Accuracy, Forecast Bias, Availability, Inventory Health, OTIF, and Service Levels.
Qualifications
- Minimum 4-6 years of experience in Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Inventory Management, S&OP, Customer Supply Chain, or Integrated Business Planning.
- Experience in an international FMCG, Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturing, or Distribution environment.
- Proven experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders across countries and functions.
- Experience in customer-facing supply chain roles combined with planning responsibilities is highly desirable.
- Planning systems exposure (e.g. Blue Yonder, SAP, Relex).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, and data modelling.
- Experience with Strategy, Looker, Power BI or equivalent analytics and reporting tools.
- Experience working with ERP and planning systems such as Blue Yonder, Relex, SAP, or equivalent solutions.
- Understanding of Integrated Demand & Supply planning system parameters is an advantage.
