EMEE & BSM Ice Cream Market Demand Planning Specialist

Looking for Your Dream Job?

Join Our Ice Cream Team!

Contract Type:  2 years contract, in Adecco

Scope: EMEE & BSM Ice Cream Market Demand Planning Specialist

Reports to: East Europe Demand Planning Manager

Location: Athens, Greece / Budapest, Hungary

Please note this will initially be an annual contract that can be renewed

Terms & Conditions:

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE:

EMEE (Enterprise Markets East Europe) is a market cluster of distributor markets in East Europe, containing of Adria (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Hercegovina), BSM (Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro), NoMAK (N Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo), and Cyprus. These markets have huge potential and are exciting to develop with the business team. The EMEE & BSM Market Demand Manager is the lead role for the EMEE region and is responsible for the detailed forecasting activities for the BSM markets. You will be supported by an Adria planner, a Cyprus planner, and a seasonal NoMAK planner who are responsible for the detailed forecasting activities for their markets.

The Market Demand Manager is an EMEE regional planning lead role responsible to balance the triangle Cash / Cost / Service by giving correct input in demand and ensuring successfull execution across the EMEE region. The role is responsible for local E2E demand and supply planning processes and enhancing the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP / IBP) for the EMEE Ice Cream business. For BSM you are leading the demand forecasting process including alignment with distributors and between commercial, supply chain, and finance teams. You are responsible for driving forecast accuracy, ensuring right service levels, optimizing inventory levels, minimizing business waste, and supporting business decision-making.

This role is vital in ensuring that the company can meet customer demand efficiently, maximizing service levels while minimizing costs and cash.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Forecast Management: Develop and maintain accurate short-, medium-, and long-term demand forecasts using machine learning models / AI driven forecasting tools, market intelligence, and cross-functional inputs
• S&OP Leadership: Lead the demand planning component of the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensuring alignment across commercial, supply, and finance functions. You own the volume forecast
• Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to gather insights on promotions, product launches, market trends
• Performance Monitoring: Track forecast accuracy and bias; implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance forecast reliability
• Service and Inventory Optimization: Support inventory planning by balancing service levels, working capital, and supply constraints while minimizing business waste
• Data & Systems: Leverage planning tools (AI/ML Forecasting tool, Kinaxis) and analytics platforms to take data-driven decisions

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS :

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in demand planning and S&OP.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in ERP, machine learning tools, and demand planning softwares
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Languages: English mandatory, local market languages like Bulgarian, Serbian, Montenegrin are a plus

LEADERSHIP:

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team deliver with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You are still responsible for your own results and you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
  • TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best.
  • PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
  • CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
  • BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, talent card and a motivation letter.  If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application.

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to apply for other positions.

Disclaimer 

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.