Demand Planner

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Date: Aug 21, 2026

Location: Shanghai, CN

Company: AkzoNobel

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

Key Accountabilities

1. Demand Forecasting and Planning:

- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the demand forecast for Deco (EC channel and Dulux Retail East region) at the appropriate level of granularity, across key metrics (e.g. volume, revenue & ASP)

- Analyze historical sales trends, baseline demand, market intelligence, customer dynamics, and sales / marketing inputs to build robust forecasts

- Build monthly forecast with actionable insight to inform the S&OE process over 0 to 3 months and provide a long-term view covering 4-36 month time horizon

- Review and challenge sales and marketing assumptions to improve forecast quality

- Manage and analyse from abnormal demands to drive business discussion / decision

- Identify forecast risks and opportunities, and support commercial team on gap closing action development

- Daily liaise with sales, supply planning, customer service, logistics, manufacturing, etc. to solve day-to-day demand and supply issues

2. IBP Process Management: the role plays a central part in connecting commercial expectations with supply and operational realities.

- Lead or support the monthly demand planning cycle as part of the IBP process

- Prepare demand review inputs, key assumptions, gap analyses, and scenario options for business discussion

- Drive cross-functional forecast alignment with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Planning teams

- Ensure demand plans are submitted accurately and on time in line with planning governance

- Escalate major forecast deviations, risks, and unresolved assumptions where necessary.

3. Cross-Functional Business Partnership:

- Partner closely with commercial teams to understand demand drivers and market changes

- Work closely with Supply Planning to align supply constraints and inventory strategy.

- Collaborate with Finance to ensure demand plans are aligned with financial targets

- Build credibility with stakeholders by providing fact-based insights & constructive challenge.

4. Performance Analysis and Continuous Improvement:

- Monitor and report key planning KPIs such as forecast accuracy, forecast bias, service level impact, and inventory implications.

- Monitor business key metrics (Volume, Revenue, ASP) at granular level, to identify gaps (IBP plan vs. Budget / QRF, actuals vs. IBP plans)

- Conduct root cause analysis on forecast errors, lead / support business discussions to develop and implement corrective actions.

- Identify process improvement opportunities in forecasting tools, templates, governance, and meeting cadence.

- Support planning automation and system enhancement initiatives where applicable.

5. Support the Demand Manager on strategic analysis and continuous improvement for overall Dulux Retail channel, and act as a backup to the Demand Manager when required.

Experience

Job Requirements

- Educated to Degree level or equivalent.

- At least 3 years relevant experience

- Advanced Excel skills

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

- System capability, e.g. SAP, OMP, Power BI.

- Excellent communication skills at all levels, internally & externally.

- Strong ownership and continuous improvement mindset

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

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