Job Title
Demand Planner
Industry
Luxury Beauty & Cosmetics
Job Category
Demand Planning / Supply Chain Planning
Career Level
Mid-Level
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Workplace Type
Hybrid
Company Overview
A globally recognized luxury beauty and cosmetics company with a strong presence across prestige retail channels, including department stores, e-commerce, directly operated boutiques, and travel retail. The organization operates within a highly collaborative international environment and focuses on delivering exceptional customer experiences through premium products and efficient supply chain management.
Reporting Line
Reports to: Demand Planning Manager
Position Overview
This position is responsible for developing and managing demand forecasts to ensure optimal product availability while maintaining healthy inventory levels across multiple sales channels in Japan.
Working within a mature Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) framework, the role partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Logistics, and Global Supply Chain teams to improve forecast quality, enhance inventory performance, and support strategic business decision-making through data-driven insights.
Key Responsibilities
Demand Forecasting & Analysis
• Develop and maintain accurate SKU-level and channel-level demand forecasts using historical sales data, market trends, business intelligence, and statistical analysis.
• Analyze forecast performance and identify drivers of forecast variances, opportunities, and risks.
• Monitor demand trends and proactively recommend forecasting adjustments.
S&OP Process Support
• Support the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by preparing analysis, reports, and planning materials.
• Consolidate demand assumptions, business insights, risks, and opportunities from key stakeholders.
• Provide analytical support to facilitate alignment across commercial and operational functions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Sales and Marketing teams to incorporate promotional activities, product launches, and commercial initiatives into demand plans.
• Collaborate with Logistics and Supply Chain teams to optimize service levels and inventory performance.
• Coordinate with global stakeholders to ensure demand plans align with supply capabilities.
Inventory & Service Level Management
• Balance inventory coverage and product availability targets while minimizing stock shortages and excess inventory.
• Identify supply constraints and operational risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support initiatives to improve inventory efficiency and working capital management.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
• Monitor and report planning KPIs, including forecast accuracy, forecast bias, inventory coverage, and air freight utilization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance forecasting quality and planning effectiveness.
• Support the implementation of improved planning methodologies, data analytics, and demand sensing capabilities.
Stakeholder Management
• Communicate demand outlooks, assumptions, risks, and opportunities to local and global stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships across business functions and serve as a trusted planning partner.
• Participate in regional and global planning discussions and presentations.
Key Stakeholders
• Japan Commercial Teams (Sales & Marketing)
• Japan Logistics Team
• Global Forecasting Team
• Global Supply Chain Team
• Finance Team
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or higher.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Forecasting, or Supply Chain Planning.
• Experience within Beauty, Cosmetics, Fashion, Luxury Retail, FMCG, or Consumer Goods industries.
• Strong understanding of retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and distribution environments.
• Advanced analytical and numerical problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional and international environments.
• Growth mindset with the ability to adapt to changing business conditions.
• Business-level English communication skills, including participation in meetings and presentations.
Technical Skills
• Advanced Excel skills including functions, formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis.
• Experience preparing business presentations using PowerPoint.
• Experience with Power Pivot, SQL, or other analytical tools is highly desirable.
• Ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into actionable business insights.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working within an S&OP environment.
• Exposure to demand sensing, forecasting systems, or planning technologies.
• Experience collaborating with global supply chain organizations.
• International business exposure within multinational companies.
Key Success Metrics
• Forecast Accuracy
• Forecast Bias
• Inventory Coverage
• Service Level Performance
• Air Freight Reduction
• S&OP Process Effectiveness
Ideal Candidate Profile
• Data-driven and highly analytical thinker.
• Strong business partnering and influencing skills.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and changing market conditions.
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
• Capable of balancing operational execution with strategic planning.
• Able to communicate effectively with both local and global stakeholders.
Employment Type
Full-Time Permanent Employee
Travel Requirements
• Occasional international business travel may be required.