Demand Planning Team Lead

Born on South Molton Street, London in 1971, Molton Brown is an icon of uniquely British style. Today, Molton Brown is one of the leading global brands in Kao´s global cosmetics portfolio. Growing from small-scale artisans into the international fragrance brand it is today, its pioneering presence is felt in our stores and websites, travel retail, luxury department stores and the most esteemed hotels around the world.

Expertly blended in London, Molton Brown’s signature fragrances, bath and shower gels, home and hand care luxuries have claimed iconic status. Kao and Molton Brown have a passion for integrity, for craftsmanship, for artistry and for giving our consumers the ultimate, quality experience.

About our role: The Demand Planning Team Lead leads and develops a team of two Demand Planners, driving forecast accuracy, process improvement and best-practice planning across approximately 10 global sales channels and three main hubs. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Production and Supply Chain, the role translates demand drivers and market insights into robust forecasts, improving short-term performance while building sustainable planning capabilities across a 24-month horizon to support inventory, service levels and business growth.

What you will do: 

• Lead the Molton Brown Demand Planning team, ensuring the team owns, develops and drives Molton Brown Demand Planning forecasts using the Kao forecasting system and tools. Ensure processes are transparent, consistent and aligned with continuous improvement initiatives, with a focus on improving accuracy and efficiency.
• Oversee the analysis of demand patterns, SKU performance and market dynamics to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend appropriate actions. Partner with Molton Brown Commercial teams across regions to ensure Demand Planners capture and make effective use of relevant customer demand information when developing the internal forecast, including promotional planning inputs and NPD volume validation.
• Work closely with senior management, including VPs, Directors and Senior Managers, on a regular basis to align demand expectations with business priorities and manage decisions with significant revenue impact.
• Manage, coach and develop two Demand Planners, supporting their performance, capability and professional development.
• Support all new product launches (NPD) and range reviews. Ensure Christmas, summer and winter sales promotions are supported by the required quantities being available across all markets and delivered in a timely manner.

What you will need: 

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience is required; a higher degree or relevant professional qualification would be an advantage.
• 5–7 years' experience in demand planning, ideally within cosmetics and toiletries or an FMCG environment, with experience using SAP/IBP or similar planning systems.
• People leadership experience, with the ability to manage, coach and develop a team, while setting clear priorities and driving accountability.
• Commercial and strategic judgement, with experience making complex decisions involving significant cost, revenue and business considerations.
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to interpret demand data, identify key drivers and translate insights into accurate forecasts and practical actions.
• Effective stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working with senior leaders and collaborating across Sales, Marketing, Production and Supply Chain.
• Ability to operate across multiple planning horizons in a fast-paced environment, balancing short-, medium- and long-term objectives, with a good understanding of the wider supply chain including production planning, logistics and manufacturing.

Molton Brown is part of Kao founded in Japan in 1887, at Kao, we believe the diversity of our teams strengthens our global mission. Here we trust and respect each other, collaborating in a friendly and inclusive work environment to achieve great results.    What you can expect from us: 

• An entrepreneurial environment where passionate and innovative teams come together. 
• Respect, teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of how we work.  
• A workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with opportunities to get involved in initiatives such as Mental Health First Aiders, the Charity Committee, and DE&I communities (region dependant)
• A broad range of benefits, including flexible working, competitive salaries, health and wellbeing offers, pension / retirement options dependant on location, insurance options, and more… 
• Learning and development opportunities 

Your voice matters here — we value entrepreneurial thinking and innovation from our teams. To find out why 33,000 people across the Globe work at Kao please visit: https://www.kao.com/emea/en/careers/  Discover careers at Kao and how we live our purpose, Kirei – Making Life Beautiful. https://kao.voyse.io/  Our Privacy Policy: https://www.kao.com/emea/en/privacy/