Global Demand Planning Lead
Key Skills
Job Description
Job Description
Kraft Heinz is looking for a Global Demand Planning Lead to define, govern, and continuously improve the company's global Demand Planning capabilities and strategies.
This strategic leadership role is responsible for Establishing and governing forecasting excellence and setting a global operating model for Demand Planning. The role establishes global standards, drives digital and data-enabled planning, and is also accountable for ensuring adherence to operating standards by partnering with senior stakeholders to develop and implement Gap closing initiatives.
The role necessitates strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to influence diverse cross-functional teams and their leaders. In addition, this function will bring critical business expertise to the overall demand planning programs. By leveraging their expertise and skills, the Global Demand Planning Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping demand planning initiatives, ensuring optimal process design, efficient system configuration, and effective system deployment with business units.
Demand Planning strategy and performance
Define and Deploy Demand Planning strategy, roadmap, standards, methodologies, and governance. Drive sustained improvement in forecast accuracy, forecast bias, service levels, inventory health, and supply chain losses. Establish global performance routines, manage forecasting KPIs and track performance with zones. Build a strong community of demand planning experts across business units and markets. Govern Demand Planning and IBP KPIs, monitor process performance, and provide actionable insights and recommendations. Identify risks, capability gaps, and improvement opportunities; develop mitigation plans; benchmark against industry practices; and embed operating standards through Log.os and related enterprise frameworks.
IBP process ownership and decision governance
Lead and coordinate the design of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and demand planning processes and systems. Set global strategies for Kraft Heinz's S&OP and demand planning.
Execute the S&OP and demand planning roadmap, aligning with overall business priorities. Foster strong partnerships across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Growth,
Marketing, Procurement, GBS, and GCC teams. Lead cross-functional reviews, align assumptions and resources, escalate risks and opportunities, and facilitate executive decision-making in the Demand Review Forum. Coordinate feedback and actions.
Digital, data and transformation
Support the Digital Team in the Development of a digital roadmap for S&OP and demand planning.- Design, implement, and govern process improvements via operating program Log.os framework. Drive user adoption and provide training for S&OP and demand planning systems.- Collect and incorporate feedback for system enhancements. Implement data science approach in routines and tools.
Capability and talent development
Develop talent and build a community of high-performing demand planners and subject matter experts. Develop global capability frameworks, training programs, and knowledge-sharing routines for forecasting, scenario planning, Demand Planning, and IBP. Coach and mentor regional leaders and practitioners, strengthen the community of practice, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Executive stakeholder leadership
Be seen as the expert in Demand Planning and the Go to for support relating to Demand Planning and the IBP Process. Lead cross-functional projects with business units and markets, engaging senior leadership.
Knowledge & Experience:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, Economics, Finance, or a related field
- 10+ years of experience in Demand Planning, S&OP, IBP, Supply Chain, Finance, or Planning Excellence roles within a complex global FMCG organization
- Extensive knowledge of statistical forecasting methodologies, demand planning cycles, and integrated business planning processes
- Proven experience leading global, cross-functional planning transformation projects and implementing planning process improvements and KPIs
- Experience leading through influence across global, regional, business unit, vendor, consulting, and system-integration teams
Skills (Capabilities):
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data, scenarios, and business insights into clear decisions and actions.
- Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and influencing skills, with the ability to align senior stakeholders across functions and geographies.
- Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional collaboration and enterprise change within a complex multinational organization.
- Proven ability to define and govern global standards, process frameworks, decision rights, metrics, and continuous improvement roadmaps.
- Deep knowledge of Demand Planning, S&OP/IBP, supply chain management, financial integration, scenario planning, and performance management.
- Strong project management, problem-solving, vendor management, talent development, and community-building capabilities.
The Lead will work across all global zones and multiple business units and markets, coordinating multifunctional teams across Commercial, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, GBS, GCC, and Digital. The role engages senior leadership to govern global Demand Planning and IBP standards, deliver transformation priorities, and improve planning maturity and business outcomes.
The role may lead significant consulting and transformation initiatives, including multi-year programs.
Location(s)
Amsterdam
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.
Core Responsibilities
Define and govern global Demand Planning and S&OP/IBP strategies, standards, processes, performance measures, and transformation roadmaps. Lead cross-functional decision-making, digital and data-enabled improvements, and the development of planning capabilities across global business units and markets.
Requirements
Requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field and 10 or more years of experience in Demand Planning, S&OP, IBP, Supply Chain, Finance, or Planning Excellence within a complex global FMCG organization. Candidates should bring deep forecasting and planning expertise, experience leading global transformation, and strong analytical, communication, influencing, project leadership, and talent-development capabilities.
About The Kraft Heinz Company
Industry: Food and Beverage Services
Company size: 10,001+ employees
The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We’re a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. While Kraft Heinz is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands. We spark joy around mealtime with our iconic brands, including Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Maxwell House, Capri Sun, Ore-Ida, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Primal Kitchen, and Classico, among others. No matter the brand, we’re united under one vision: To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally. Bringing this vision to life is our team of 37,000+ food lovers, creative thinkers, and high performers worldwide. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership with Rise Against Hunger. We also stand committed to responsible, sustainable practices that extend to every facet of our business, our consumers, and our communities. Every day, we’re transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion – and are ready to create the future, build a legacy, and lead as a global citizen – there’s only one thing to do: join our table and let’s make life delicious! Note: Kraft Heinz will never request payment from candidates during the recruitment process and all legitimate vacancies are published through our official careers channels.