Category Planning Director

Where do you want to work?

Salary: £90,000 – £105,000 + Car Allowance, Bonus & Benefits.
At Danone, we’re working to make the world healthier while building a more sustainable future. As a certified B Corp, our ambitions come to life through the decisions our people and leaders make every day. You can learn more about our .
We’re looking for a to lead end-to-end planning performance across key categories within our North Europe business.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for and the orchestration of supply across a complex, multi-country FMCG environment. You’ll connect commercial ambition with operational reality, ensuring we make the right decisions across forecasting, demand, supply, inventory, service, cost and waste.
You’ll be at the heart of our Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) processes, influencing senior stakeholders, navigating competing priorities and developing a high-performing Category Planning team.

What you’ll be responsible for

Own planning performance across multiple categories, driving service, availability and overall business performance.
Ensure planning readiness for innovation, portfolio changes and business transformation.
Anticipate supply and service risks and lead effective mitigation and recovery plans.

Drive Demand & Supply Planning
Lead the Demand Planning and forecasting process , creating robust assumptions and high-quality forecasts.
Connect Demand Planning, Supply Planning and Logistics to build achievable, responsive category plans.
Translate market insights, risks and opportunities into clear scenarios and recommendations.

Partner with senior stakeholders across Commercial, Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, Procurement and Operations.
Use data and scenario planning to inform priorities, trade-offs and executive decision-making.
Strengthen governance and build greater cross-functional planning discipline.

Optimise service, inventory, cost & waste
Balance customer service and availability with inventory, cost and waste objectives.
Lead decision-making during supply constraints, shortages and operational disruption.
Champion simplification, productivity and continuous improvement across planning.

Lead & develop a high-performing team
Coach, develop and inspire the Category Planning team.
Create clear standards and expectations for planning excellence.
Build capability in digital planning, analytics and data-driven decision-making.

You’ll bring significant Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Supply Planning or Operations leadership experience, ideally gained within .
Strong knowledge of Demand Planning, Supply Planning, forecasting, S &OE and IBP.
Experience leading planning across multiple categories, markets or countries.
Experience operating within complex supply chains with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
A track record of leading and developing high-performing teams.
Strong commercial judgement and the ability to turn complex data into clear business recommendations.
Confidence influencing and challenging senior stakeholders.
Experience managing ambiguity, supply constraints and changing business priorities.
A continuous improvement mindset and an interest in using digital tools and data to improve planning performance.

At Danone UK & Ireland, we are committed to delivering better health through better nutrition for millions of consumers and patients in our communities.
We believe in the benefits of working both in the office hub and at home. Time in the hub enhances community, problemsolvingand innovation, while homeworking supports focus, learning and wellness.
Our hybrid working framewAork is designed to help you perform your role in the most efficient way. Your manager will guide how you split your time between home and your nearest hub, based on your role and business needs.
The aim is to support you in doing your best work, while creating connection moments that matter.
We have a range of flexible benefits and excellent rewards,click here to find out more.
Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) is deeply embedded in Danone's DNA,representingour core values and beliefs. We embrace diversity as a driving force forpositive change, nurturing an inclusive workplace where every individual is valued.
The closing date for applications is 12th November 2026, you will therefore hear about your application after this date.
Dedicated to bringing health through food to as many people as possible, we are a leading global food & beverage company built on four businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition and Medical Nutrition.

All official Danone job opportunities are published only on this platform
Danone will only contact candidates using email addresses ending in @danone.com.
Do not share personal or financial information if contacted otherwise
All official Danone job opportunities are published only on this platform
Danone will only contact candidates using email addresses ending in @danone.com.
Do not share personal or financial information if contacted otherwise