Senior Manager, EMEA Demand Planning

Kao Corporation

London, England, United Kingdom

Full-time•

Manufacturing / Production, Business Management / Project / Planning

Lead and develop the EMEA Demand Planning team to deliver best-in-class forecasts and support regional SCM objectives. Shape how Kao delivers products across EMEA by steering a forecasting function critical to service, growth, and efficiency. Work closely with SCM, Finance, and EMEA General Managers to optimise service, inventory, and obsolescence performance. Set the vision for Demand Planning excellence, drive cross-functional decisions, and influence strategic supply chain outcomes. Represent EMEA Demand Planning in regional and global projects, including system implementations and product launches.

Key responsibilities:

Lead demand planning for a multi-brand, multi-channel EMEA business with high SKU complexity (an international team of 11 Demand Planners, located in 4 countries & across 8,000 SKUs)
Set and steer the forecasting strategy to improve accuracy, service levels, and inventory productivity across the region
Collaborate with the Planning leadership team and other SCM and KAO functions (with strong cross-functional visibility within and outside of SCM e.g. Brand marketing, Finance, General managers) for the delivery of operational objectives for service, inventory and obsolescence
Own the continuous improvement roadmap for demand planning, championing standardisation, best practices, and digital capabilities.
Coach, and develop Demand Planning team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Degree-level education; numeric or supply chain–related discipline preferred
External SCM/Demand Planning certifications e.g. APICS/IBF are strong plus

What you’ll need:

7+ years’ experience in demand planning,
5+ years’ experience leading and developing teams, including remote management
Expertise in ERP / statistical forecasting tools
Proven experience in process development and improvement
Excellent communication and influencing skills up to GM/VP level
Strong leadership to navigate complexity and drive cross-functional collaboration
Effective problem-solving, negotiation and resolution management skills
Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel capabilities.
Statistical and/or programming knowledge (strong plus)
Project management experience (change management, process implementation).

How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 16 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.

What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.

Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.

Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit our Americas website (https://www.kao.com/americas/en/) or EMEA website (https://www.kao.com/emea/en/)

https://www.kao.com/emea/en/privacy/

#Hybrid

About the company

Kao Corporation

Company website•Personal Care Product Manufacturing

This is the official account of Kao in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Americas region with our main hubs in London (UK), Darmstadt (Germany), Amersfoort (the Netherlands) and Cincinnati (USA). We focus on our Beauty Care business with premium brands in three business sectors: Consumer Care, Salon and Molton Brown.

Our Consumer Care business represents iconic skin and hair care brands that are recognized for their innovation and quality across the globe, including John Frieda, Guhl, Bioré, Bondi Sands, Curél and Jergens.

Our Salon Business is committed to unleashing the creativity of stylists, salons and consumers around the globe. With our brands Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk and Varis, stylists have everything in their hands to create beautiful show-stopping hair representative of the individuality of their clients.

Our London-based luxury brand Molton Brown, offers fragrance, body and bath products found only in our exclusive Molton Brown stores, high-end department stores and travel retail, as well as five-star hotels around the world.

All three business sectors are driven by the same values and beliefs: We strive to create a Kirei life for people, society and the planet through creation and innovation that enables more sustainable lifestyles. The Japanese word kirei, meaning “clean, well-ordered, and beautiful,” reflects our purpose.

And because our people are our greatest asset, we foster an environment where everyone can grow, flourish and help us make life beautiful.

Globally, Kao has strived to deliver value to the life of people everywhere in the world since the company's founding in 1887. As a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals, Kao creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet.