Senior Planner, Regional Demand Planning

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew, we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.

The Senior Demand Planner plays a critical role in shaping how Smith+Nephew translates market signals into actionable business outcomes. This role goes beyond forecasting — it integrates analytics, technology, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure demand plans support revenue growth, cost efficiency, and cash optimization .

By combining strong analytical capabilities with business acumen, the Senior Demand Planner provides insights that guide strategic and tactical decisions across the franchise. This position will serve as a trusted business partner to Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams, driving consensus and enabling effective trade-off decisions through the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.

What will you be doing?

Key Responsibilities

Demand Planning & Business Outcomes

• Develop, maintain, and refine rolling statistical demand forecasts at SKU, family, and franchise levels, ensuring alignment with business strategy and financial goals.
• Translate forecast signals into revenue, cost, and inventory outcomes, providing insights that support decision-making.
• Lead cross-functional demand reviews, ensuring alignment between statistical forecasts, market intelligence, and financial projections.
• Identify and communicate risks, opportunities, and forecast variances, providing recommendations to optimize revenue, service, and working capital.
• Partner with Marketing on product lifecycle planning (launches, transitions, end-of-life) to anticipate impact on service levels, cost, and E&O.

Technology & Digital Enablement

• Leverage advanced planning tools (Kinaxis RapidResponse, SAP) and analytics to improve forecast accuracy and visibility.
• Drive automation and data storytelling to transform raw data into actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
• Champion continuous improvement through use of AI/ML-enabled forecasting and scenario planning.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Facilitate consensus building with Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure demand plans reflect commercial strategy and operational realities.
• Actively contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP/IBP) process by presenting forward-looking demand insights, risks, and trade-off scenarios.
• Partner with Regulatory and Quality to ensure forecasts align with certification requirements and market entry timelines.
• Support inventory and supply planning teams with demand insights, enabling effective allocation and prioritization decisions during constraints.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and communicate key forecast performance metrics (accuracy, bias, inventory turns, service levels), and lead corrective actions.
• Identify demand drivers and collaborate with commercial and finance partners to improve predictability.
• Continuously refine planning parameters and portfolio segmentation to balance service, cost, and cash.

Success in Role

• Improved forecast accuracy and reduced bias, enabling better financial predictability.
• Supported revenue growth while reducing excess inventory and minimizing E&O risk.
• Transformed demand planning from a tactical forecasting role into a strategic business partner function.
• Recognized as a trusted advisor who provides actionable insights that shape commercial and supply chain decisions.

What will you need to be successful?

Education : Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (advanced degree preferred).

Certifications : APICS CPIM or CSCP certification preferred.

Experience :

• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain analytics, or related field.

• Expertise in forecasting models, inventory strategies, and demand planning processes.

• Experience with Kinaxis RapidResponse, SAP, and advanced Excel/analytics tools.

Language : Advanced English level.

Knowledge :

• Strong financial and business acumen; ability to connect demand signals to revenue, cost, and cash impacts.

Competences:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership.

• Domestic and International travel up to 20%.

You. Unlimited

We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our strongest investments are in our people and the patients we serve.

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Other reasons why you will love it here

• Your finances: Funeral insurance policy

• Your well-being: Prepaid medical insurance, recognitions program, legal, financial, and psychological assistance program, life insurance, dental insurance.

• Flexibility: Hybrid work model depending on job responsibilities, flexible paternity and maternity leave

• Training: Access to unlimited learning tools.

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