Director, Demand and Market Distribution Planning

Hasbro European Services provides various services to Hasbro business units in Europe and the Middle East and Africa.\n\nDirector, Demand \u0026 Market Distribution Planning - EMEA\n\nStep into a pivotal leadership role where you\u2019ll shape the future of regional business planning! As the driving force behind a high-impact planning team, you\u2019ll collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Management to create and maintain a dynamic 24-month rolling forecast. Your expertise will enable seamless inventory flow, champion global inventory policies, and optimize cash management and inventory health across the region.\n\nYou\u2019ll own the pursuit of excellence in planning practices, delivering top-tier customer service at the best possible cost. Your mission: maximize sales and service levels for our accounts while minimizing inventory and obsolescence. Beyond the numbers, you\u2019ll provide brand and category oversight, actively shape demand, and lead process improvements that elevate our planning capabilities.\n\nThis is your opportunity to make a real difference\u2014driving innovation, influencing strategy, and ensuring our business thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.\n\nLocation \u0026 Flexibility: This hybrid role is based in Stockley Park, West London, with an in-office presence from Tuesday to Thursday and flexible remote work on Monday and Friday.\n\nKey Deliverables:\n\n * Lead a high-performing team of Planners delivering an accurate demand \u0026 market distribution plan for the regional business, utilising the agreed planning methodologies \u0026 systems, baselining \u0026 enriching consumer demand to deliver an unconstrained rolling forecast \u0026 then executing S\u0026OE plans in market, optimising inventory health \u0026 cash.\n * Own the signal being passed from their region to supply chain, ensuring Performance delivery on Forecast Accuracy, Bias \u0026 Forecast value add.\n * The role will lead ongoing inventory optimisation in the market. Ensuring inventory clearance execution plans are in place across the Region, focusing on aging control, exit strategy, and product lifecycle\n\n\n * Execute regional demand management cycles (DMR, S\u0026OE), co-pilot the regional commercial leader to drive the DMR (Demand Review) \u0026 S\u0026OE (Sales \u0026 Operational Execution) with commercial leadership, get approval of recommended forecast, define R\u0026Os, and actions that the commercial teams will take to drive or influence demand, along with the demand drivers \u0026 assumptions to underpin this demand. Ensure Regional action plans are in place and actioned to mitigate out-of-stock supply risk or excess inventory.\n * Partner with the statistical modelling team to ensure optimal baseline forecasts are available for regional demand planning teams, that all adjustments and assumptions are recorded, e.g., channel trends, seasonality, promotions.\n * Ensure multiple variables which shape the demand forecast are available \u0026 used consistently, standardise way for respective region, e.g., business unit level Shipment (Sell in), POS (Sell out), SIT, Share data, promotional plans/mechanics, cannibalisation. \n * Partner with Global Supply Planning to implement inventory policy \u0026 optimize it across the region. Represent the market requirements on parameter setting, such as safety stock, cycle stock \u0026 other inventory drivers, lead as the market voice in the global policy conversation on adjustments and amendments to support the business. Roll out the inventory policy in market and implement technology/systems improvement to integrate policy into the market planning environment \u0026 ensure optimal flow \u0026 allocation. \n\n\n * Lead ongoing inventory optimisation in market. Ensuring inventory clearance execution plans are in place across the Region, focusing on aging control, exit strategy, and product lifecycle\n * Collaborate extensively with partners (GPL\u2019s, regional Sales, Marketing, Global planning, Supply Chain teams) throughout the region \u0026 wider global network to sense \u0026 shape demand, driving rigour \u0026 discipline in aligning assumptions \u0026 demand drivers\n * Partner with Category demand planners, Global brand owners to ensure effective communication with Market demand planning, ensuring top-down strategies are understood within the region, whilst also providing the Market Group demand planners with clarity of key initiatives across the full forecasting horizon, product lifecycle against which to plan demand, on transition plans for refreshed items \u0026 like-items for new. \n\n\n * Participate in regional and global forums representing Demand \u0026 Market Distribution.\n * Work in close relationship with the Global IBP Owner, utilising IBP, S\u0026OP tools to be able to bring guidelines/targets to the commercial function across the region.\n * Drive continuous improvement across planning, contribute to product rationalization, and portfolio optimization.\n * Drive process health improvement in Demand cycles, process, people, tools, and data.\n * Working knowledge of in-country commercial \u0026 supply chain processes, including order fulfilment, demand management, S\u0026OP, S\u0026OE, master data, and life-cycle management.\n\n\n\nTeam Management\n\n * Lead, develop, and retain talent through development, coaching, and engagement. Provide guidance, direction, and development planning.\n * Lead the team performance in accordance with Hasbro\u2019s People Management Processes\n * Ensure the team has the resources and support needed to deliver in their role and achieve objectives. \n\n\n\nCritical Leadership Experience \u0026 Skills:\n\nBreak the Mold:\n\n * Able to demonstrate significant experience of innovative thinking in demand planning and forecasting, challenging conventional approaches, and driving process improvements that set new standards for excellence.\n * Applies advanced techniques such as demand sensing and neural networks to enhance forecast accuracy and can adapt to market volatility.\n\n\n\nTake Charge:\n\n * Leads with confidence, influencing senior stakeholders and commercial leadership teams to deliver impactful business outcomes.\n * Takes ownership of complex commercial operations, resolving issues swiftly and ensuring seamless planning and delivery.\n\n\n\nMatrix of Leadership:\n\n * Thrives in international matrix environments, collaborating across regions, functions, and cultures to align strategies and drive unified results.\n * Engages and motivates diverse teams, leveraging cross-cultural awareness to build high-performing, resilient planning groups.\n\n\n\nFriendship is Magic:\n\n * Fosters strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, building trust and open communication to shape demand collaboratively.\n * Champions a supportive team culture, prioritizing development, coaching, and engagement to unlock each team member\u2019s potential.\n\n\n\nBe Legendary:\n\n * Sets the benchmark for planning excellence through mastery of demand/supply methodologies, inventory policy deployment, and product lifecycle forecasting.\n * Delivers legendary results by balancing accuracy and effort, optimizing segmentation, and driving continuous improvement in planning processes.\n\n\n\nKnowledge is Half the Battle:\n\n * Leverages deep expertise in forecasting models, market analysis, and economic indicators to anticipate performance issues and inform strategic decisions.\n * Pursues ongoing learning and professional development, with APICS/ASCM CPIM and CSCP accreditations highly valued.\n\n\n\nIndustry Experience:\n\n * Experienced in international matrix environments.\n * Industry knowledge \u0026 application of relevant forecasting models, or FMCG/Toy/Fashion-oriented industry preferred.\n * Experienced in shaping demand, taking into account economic indicators and market trends that can impact forecasting accuracy.\n\n\n\n#LI-Hybrid\n\nHasbro is an Equal Opportunities Employer\n\nThe above is intended to describe the general content of the role, and the requirements for satisfactory performance in this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the duties, responsibilities, or role requirements. We value diversity at Hasbro, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.\n\nInterviews at Hasbro take place in person and virtually as part of our recruitment process. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you are selected to move forward in our application process and you have a medical condition or an individual need for adjustment to our process, and you believe it may affect your ability to be at your best, please let your recruitment partner know, so we can consider how best we can support you and make any adjustments that may reasonably be needed.\n