Demand Planner, Team lead
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£41,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 3116 (75% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £41,700, and Kao (UK) Limited is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
Worth checking: this could also be SOC 3553 (Merchandisers, Demand planner index entry; but this is forecasting, not merchandising), which is not on the eligible-occupation list. Ask Kao (UK) Limited what the duties actually are.
About the role
We are Kao, listed as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the last 20 years.
Our EMEA brand portfolio spans across three sectors; Consumer Care (John Frieda, Guhl, Bondi Sands, Bioré, Jergens, Curél), Professional Hair (Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk), and Molton Brown.
Our corporate philosophy, The Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.
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.
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.
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.
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://candidate-brochure.kao.com/kao-emea/full-view.html
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/
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This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Kao (UK) Limited, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 3116 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~54k in sampleSimilar sponsored roles
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About sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Kao (UK) Limited holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 3116 going rate of £41,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.