Demand and Distribution Planning Manager CEE (f/m/x)

Job Description:

Demand and Distribution Planning Manager CEE (f/m/x)

Royal Canin, Supply Chain Department

Location: Niepołomice or Warsaw

***Hybrid (up to 50% remote) ***

Are you excited by the challenge of balancing customer service, product availability, inventory, and forecast accuracy across multiple markets? Do you thrive in a fast-paced international environment where strategic thinking, leadership, and operational excellence come together? Join us as a Demand & Distribution Planning Manager and take ownership of both demand and distribution planning across the CEE cluster, leading a talented team and driving end-to-end supply chain performance. In this highly visible role, you will shape planning decisions that directly impact customer experience, business growth, inventory efficiency, and supply chain resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end Demand & Distribution Planning agenda across the cluster, ensuring alignment between customer demand, inventory strategy, and product availability.

• Own the demand planning process, driving forecast accuracy, data quality, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.

• Lead and facilitate the Demand Management Review (DMR) process within S&OP+, ensuring alignment of volume forecasts across Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams.

• Ensure optimal inventory levels and replenishment strategies across the regional distribution network to deliver service, cost, and cash objectives.

• Lead distribution planning activities and proactively manage supply-demand imbalances, mitigating potential risks to customer service.

• Partner closely with European factories, local Supply Chain teams, and key stakeholders to continuously improve end-to-end supply and distribution performance.

• Act as the functional expert and key user for planning systems, supporting system enhancements, digital transformation initiatives, and future capability development.

• Build, develop, and inspire a high-performing planning team, fostering engagement, capability growth, and succession planning.

Candidate Profile

• At least 8 years of experience in Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Distribution Planning, or broader Supply Chain Management, preferably within the FMCG industry.

• Proven experience leading and developing teams in a complex, international environment.

• Strong expertise in demand forecasting, inventory management, distribution planning, and end-to-end supply chain processes.

• Experience leading S&OP, Integrated Business Planning, or similar cross-functional planning processes.

• Demonstrated success in driving process improvements, transformation initiatives, and operational excellence.

• Advanced analytical capabilities and strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and supply chain planning systems.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across functions, markets, and manufacturing sites.

• Master's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field preferred; APICS CPIM, CPF, or equivalent certification is a plus. Experience with Navision, 1NAV, FuturMaster, or similar planning platforms, as well as additional language skills relevant to the cluster, will be considered an advantage

What can you expect from Mars?

• Contract of employment.

• Attractive financial conditions with Business Bonus and Christmas Bonus.

• We will also look after your safety and well-being by offering you rich benefits package including life insurance, private medical care, Employee Assistance Program fully covered by Mars, MultiSport card.

• Subsidized meals.

• Monthly allotment of food for your dog or cat.

• Extra savings scheme to support You in long perspective.

• Support in career building through personalized development plan.

• Shop with attractive discounts on our products that Your family and friend are going to love.

• Possibility to participate in volunteering initiatives during working hours.

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