Demand and Distribution Planning Manager (f/m/x) in Kraków

Royal Canin, Supply Chain Department

Hybrid (up to 50% remote)

Location: Niepołomice or Warsaw

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.
• 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 the long perspective.
• Support in career building through personalized development plan.
• Shop with attractive discounts on our products that your family and friends are going to love.
• Possibility to participate in volunteering initiatives during working hours.