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Job description
<div class="clearfix"></div><h1 class="job-title axiom0-0 axiom-scraped-0">Head of Forecasting</h1><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><p>Howdens Joinery, the UK’s number one Trade Kitchen Supplier, is seeking to hire a knowledgeable and influential Head of Forecasting to lead our Demand Planning teams forecasting sales and developing modelling strategies across all our business units across UK and Europe. This includes aligning operational volume plans, reviewing the accuracy of the plan and delivering world class levels of forecast accuracy and service to our business. </p><p>In this leadership role, you will deliver our Supply Chain strategy and improve our year-on-year performance as well as ensuring your team have the relevant leading edge system tools and coaching and development to succeed. Based in our Howden, Yorkshire office four days a week and one day working from home. </p><p>Reporting to the Executive Supply Chain Director, this is a great opportunity to be part of a market leading, FTSE 100, decentralised business that routinely breaks new markets and disrupts the market with innovative new designs or highly competitive pricing. Key skills and capabilities required for this role include fast creative and decisive thinking as well as the technical and business knowledge and judgement needed to drive performance and operational efficiency. </p><p><strong>What we can offer you as a Head of Forecasting</strong></p><ul><li>Highly competitive benefits package with a performance related bonus scheme (up to 40%)</li><li>Company Car or car allowance</li><li>Private medical family health insurance</li><li>Award winning pension scheme (company contribution of up to 12%)</li><li>25 days holiday + bank holidays per year and opportunity to buy extra holidays. </li><li>Free onsite canteen</li><li>Cycle to work scheme </li><li>Share save scheme. </li><li>Exceptional reward and recognition events </li></ul><p><strong>What you’ll be doing as Head of Forecasting</strong></p><ul><li>Leading, managing, coaching and developing the operational Demand Planning and Inventory Team to continually improve systems and processes to deliver world class Forecast Accuracy and Service.</li><li>Coordinating with the Commercial Finance Director and Heads of Categories, to ensure Operational Plans are aligned to the latest Group Board business plan, challenging and making recommendations where needed.</li><li>Leading the Operational Demand Planning Teams in creating accurate forecasts models and ensuring plans incorporate the latest Category thinking on NPI Launches, Product Cutovers and Exits, Promotional Pricing and Competitor Activity.</li><li>Influencing strategic business Operational and Capital Investment decisions and support delivery of the supply chain service objectives, by providing specialist functional knowledge and business insight at Senior Management and Steering Committee Meetings.</li><li>Ensuring appropriate forecasting systems, tools, modelling strategies and processes are in place to enable the team to incorporate factors that may additionally impact on sales demand.</li><li>Providing the business with accurate forward stock projections to inform Warehouse and Transport resource and capacity requirements, Financial Cash Flow planning, and support Group Financial Reporting at Half Year and Year End.</li></ul><p><strong>What you’ll need as a Head of Forecasting </strong></p><ul><li>Proven experience of Demand or Supply Chain management, ideally gained in a leadership role within a Blue Chip, Manufacturing or Retail business with a promotional focus, utilising leading-edge IT tools.</li><li>Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing others and leading change.</li><li>Proven track record of delivering significant business process step changes through Supply Chain Design and Process Re-engineering.</li><li>Excellent knowledge of IT systems (ideally SAP APO or SAP IBP) for Forecasting, Inventory Management, Planning and Production Scheduling. MS Excel – Advanced Level.</li><li>Effective and decisive decision maker, able to understand our business model and make balanced and timely decisions.</li><li>Solution Focused, able to present options, proposals, and recommendations</li><li>Technical thinking and analysing skills, able to process large volumes of data and understand complex business processes, to identify potential issues, challenges, and opportunities.</li><li>Resilient and able to work at pace in a fast-moving environment</li></ul><p><strong>About Howdens:</strong></p><p>As the UK’s leading trade kitchen supplier, Howdens proudly supports over 460,000 trade professionals through our network of 900+ depots. As a constituent of the FTSE 100 and with sales of £2.3 billion in 2024, we continue to expand, offering exciting opportunities for growth in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. </p><p><strong>How to apply: </strong> </p><p>We’re creating a future where world-class service, innovation, and sustainability are at the core of everything we do. If you're looking for a place to grow and advance your career as a <strong>Head of Forecasting</strong></p><p><em>Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@howdens.com with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you. </em> </p><p>#LI-SB1 </p></div><div class="sharelinks"><div class="linkedinbutton sharebutton pull-left"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"></script><span class="IN-widget" data-lnkd-debug="<script type="in/share+init" data-counter="right" data-url="https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/howdens/vms/e/careers/positions/dJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh"></script>" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1; vertical-align: bottom; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="padding: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; text-indent: 0px !important; display: inline-block !important; vertical-align: bottom !important; font-size: 1px !important;"><button class="IN-e146f606-483d-4824-a598-79a778fddfb4-1G9ISYhSF8XoOmdcl0yKDu"><xdoor-icon aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24px" height="24px" x="0" y="0" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMin meet"><g style="fill: currentColor"><rect x="-0.003" style="fill:none;" width="24" height="24"></rect><path style="" d="M20,2h-16c-1.1,0-2,0.9-2,2v16c0,1.1,0.9,2,2,2h16c1.1,0,2-0.9,2-2V4C22,2.9,21.1,2,20,2zM8,19h-3v-9h3V19zM6.5,8.8C5.5,8.8,4.7,8,4.7,7s0.8-1.8,1.8-1.8S8.3,6,8.3,7S7.5,8.8,6.5,8.8zM19,19h-3v-4c0-1.4-0.6-2-1.5-2c-1.1,0-1.5,0.8-1.5,2.2V19h-3v-9h2.9v1.1c0.5-0.7,1.4-1.3,2.6-1.3c2.3,0,3.5,1.1,3.5,3.7V19z"></path></g></svg></xdoor-icon>Share</button></span></span></div><div class="tweetbutton sharebutton pull-left"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-share-button-rendered twitter-tweet-button" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 65px; height: 20px;" title="X Post Button" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweetbutton.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.en.html#dnt=false&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&originalreferer=https%3A%2F%2Fisw.changeworknow.co.uk%2Fhowdens%2Fvms%2Fe%2Fcareers%2Fpositions%2FdJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh&related=%40changeworknow&size=m&text=Howdens%20Joinery%20Co.%20Careers%20-%20Head%20of%20Forecasting&time=1747188436886&type=share&url=https%3A%2F%2Fisw.changeworknow.co.uk%2Fhowdens%2Fvms%2Fe%2Fcareers%2Fpositions%2FdJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh" data-url="https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/howdens/vms/e/careers/positions/dJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh"></iframe><script type="text/javascript" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="facebooklikebutton sharebutton pull-left"><script>(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/enUS/all.js#xfbml=1&status=0&appId=352523527214784";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-share-button fbiframewidget" data-href="https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/howdens/vms/e/careers/positions/dJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh" width="90" data-layout="button" data-size="" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" fb-iframe-plugin-query="appid=&containerwidth=37&href=https%3A%2F%2Fisw.changeworknow.co.uk%2Fhowdens%2Fvms%2Fe%2Fcareers%2Fpositions%2FdJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh&layout=button&locale=enUS&sdk=joey&size=&width=90"><span style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 67px; height: 20px;"><iframe name="f04c94c63d4a57a16" width="90px" height="1000px" data-testid="fb:sharebutton Facebook Social Plugin" title="fb:sharebutton Facebook Social Plugin" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media" src="https://www.facebook.com/v2.9/plugins/sharebutton.php?appid=&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxdarbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df363c3d62447d9242%26domain%3Disw.changeworknow.co.uk%26iscanvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fisw.changeworknow.co.uk%252Ff2efa1bb15faa0d6c%26relation%3Dparent.parent&containerwidth=37&href=https%3A%2F%2Fisw.changeworknow.co.uk%2Fhowdens%2Fvms%2Fe%2Fcareers%2Fpositions%2FdJUSDaPdfcG6OFqVor4bJh&layout=button&locale=enUS&sdk=joey&size=&width=90" style="border: none; visibility: visible; width: 67px; height: 20px;" class=""></iframe></span></div><div id="fb-root"></div></div><div class="clear"></div></div><a class="btn btn-primary pull-right" href="/howdens/vms/e/careers/candidates/applications/new?howtoapply=cs2cfJaG5ivPnmbuPzTTxh">Apply now</a><div class="clearfix"></div>
