Head of S&OP

Head of S&OP

I am excited to be partnering with a growing food business looking to appoint a Head of S&OP to join their team in London (3 days in the office)

This is a newly created role that will play a critical part in shaping and embedding a best-in-class S&OP process across the business. You will lead the alignment of demand, supply, inventory, production, and financial plans, ensuring the business can effectively balance service, cost, and cash objectives while supporting future growth. Working closely with both commercial and operational teams, you will drive forecasting excellence, enhance decision-making, and build a culture of collaboration and accountability.

In this role, you will…

• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end S&OP process, ensuring effective collaboration across teams.
• Drive demand and supply planning performance through improved forecast accuracy, inventory optimisation, and capacity management.
• Lead medium- and long-term planning activities, including scenario modelling, supplier risk management, capacity planning, and NPD launches.
• Own key business KPIs, including OTIF, forecast accuracy, and waste, using data and insights to drive continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Build and develop high-performing planning teams while influencing senior stakeholders across the business to achieve alignment and execution.
• Drive governance, accountability, and data-driven decision-making across the planning function and wider organisation.

About you

• Extensive experience within Food FMCG supply chains across demand, supply, and production planning.
• Proven experience leading or playing a key role in a mature S&OP process.
• Strong people leadership skills with a track record of building, developing, and motivating teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the gravitas to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional engagement.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to balance attention to detail with broader strategic objectives.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities for improvement across processes, systems, and people, and successfully implement change in a fast-paced environment.