Manager Demand Planning AKA (Temp until April 2026 F/M/D)

Purpose and Relevance for the organization:

This role is responsible for managing the AKA Demand Planning process for Central AKA’s.

You are responsible for creating the Alliance Key Account Demand Plan and Integrated Business Plan (IBP) for your AKA responsibility. The Demand Plan is the basis for Purchasing and significantly influences the inventory management/stock turn. The IBP provides the Europe financial forecasting status.

Responsibilities:

Demand Planning

• Responsible for overseeing the Rolling Demand Plan (RDP) for defined Central AKA’s, on article level based on AKA Sales and Marketing input
  • Ensure pre-order business
  • Balance the product availability for the re-order period
  • Monthly distribution of the RDP reflecting account demand
  • Allocations are facilitated
• Ensure the observance of local and global timelines and deadlines
• Drive the focus on forecast accuracy with cross-function departments (Marketing, AKA Sales, Product Supply and Market Operations & Optimization) and ensure the implications of inaccuracy are understood
• Observe accounts forecast changes, opportunities and risks
• Work with the Product Supply team to ensure the AKA demand is clear and ensure the correct level of inventory is secured
• Support the orderbook in-take processes and fulfilment to ensure the best possible availability

IBP

• Lead the IBP process for responsible AKA ensuring timelines are adhered to
• Control the monthly cycle and influence the teams where necessary to produce a considered forecast with required commentary, including risk & opps
• Bridge the IBP and RDP in a way that is reconciled and fully explained
• Ensure input the IBP submission is accurate and delivered on-time

Key Contacts:

• AKA CTC
• Product Supply
• Customer Service
• Market Operations & Optimization
• AKA Sales
• AKA FP&A

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Good managerial skills
• Good analytical skills
• Excellent numerical skills
• Advanced SAP knowledge (SCM & AFS)
• Good MS Excel skills
• Good knowledge of MS Office (PP, Word)
• Good communication skills
• Fluent in English and another European language in writing and speaking

Educational Background/ Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor degree or similar or equivalent relevant experience
• 3-5 years of work experience in demand planning, finance or a similar field
• Experience in the sporting goods industry preferred