sales planning manager - hybrid

As the Sales Planning Manager, you will play a crucial role in maintaining an accurate demand forecast, which is vital for our commercial success. Your efforts will ensure optimal stock availability, driving sales while minimizing write-off costs. This position is responsible for managing the entire regional monthly forecast process.

Reporting in a matrix structure to both the Regional Sales Manager (Global Travel) and the Head of Insights & Intelligence, you will work closely with Sales teams as well as Cluster and Central Supply Chain teams.

Your primary objective will be to drive and enhance the sales forecasting process, providing a reliable foundation that supports the operational execution of central supply chain functions. Your work will ensure proper supply levels and an excellent customer experience.

You will achieve this by leveraging data optimally, creating transparency, and raising awareness of risks and opportunities. This will be essential in supporting the business decision-making process.

Imperial Brands PLC 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘀 is a 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸® for the second time in a row. This prestigious recognition highlights I𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘀 commitment to creating a work environment that fosters employee well-being, trust, and innovation.

Location: Office in Athens, Hybrid work set-up.

Principal Accountabilities

• Analyse market dynamics and translate consumer trends, seasonality and passenger mix into robust market size and sales forecast models.

• Consolidate insights on product initiatives, lifecycle milestones and promotional activity, accurately reflecting anticipated volume impact in the sales outlook.

• Interpret competitor intelligence in partnership with the Insights & Intelligence team, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and actions to protect or grow market share.

• Leverage internal and external historical data to continuously strengthen forecast quality, accuracy and confidence.

• Own the integration of all business drivers into the monthly forecast across priority markets and key SKUs, while maintaining appropriate oversight of smaller markets.

• Partner closely with Sales Operations and central Demand Planning teams to review forecast performance, understand variances, and embed continuous improvement, driving improvements in forecast accuracy and bias metrics.

Skills and Experience Required

• Extensive experience in demand and/or supply planning, insights or commercial analytics, ideally within an international or matrixed environment.

• Full proficiency in English. 

• Strong analytical capability with a genuine passion for data, combined with the ability to articulate insights and recommendations to diverse stakeholders clearly.

• Highly self‑motivated, resilient and comfortable working to deadlines in a fast‑paced, performance‑driven environment.

• A collaborative team player who enjoys working across cultures and time zones, is open to change, and has the confidence to challenge and evolve established processes and ways of working.

• Strong proficiency in Power BI and advanced MS Excel.

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.