Demand Planner

**Demand Planner**

**Who are Bird & Blend Tea co?**

Bird & Blend was set up and is run by Krisi and Mike, who met whilst studying Politics (of all things) at university. Starting off packing tea in their bedroom and attending markets, building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to our ethos and values has been Krisi and Mike’s passion. Now with an awesome team, multiple retail stores & a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK.

**What does a Demand Planner do?**

Using our Warehousing Management system, our Retail inventory management suite, and your Demand Planning experience you are responsible for ensuring that our product is ‘in stock, in the right places, at the right time’. You will bring your experience in Demand Planning and Stock Control to ensure that we are always taking full advantage of opportunities regarding all things ‘product’ across the business - maximising revenue via supply and improving GP are your two key drivers.

You will collaborate closely with our Operations Management, and our Production Operations & Tea Supply Chain Manager to ensure that our top line forecasts are in line with your own demand assumptions and that all component parts have been planned for and procured accordingly.

You will work closely with our Retail Operations Manager and our individual store managers from a stock control perspective to ensure that their individual stock needs are being met and that ongoing demand is well planned for - from looking at ‘low stock’ thresholds and individual store stock turn cycles, to ensuring that line deliveries are dropped in the most efficient and suitable quantities across our spread of retail stores, you are here a key communicator across the business.

There will be an element of Procurement involved in this job role, so any previous Procurement experience will stand you in good stead.

Reporting to, and supported by our Operations Director this is a role which requires a dynamic and analytical Demand Planner who is able to tie together various departmental needs, assess viability, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions accordingly which further business growth, minimise waste, and ensure continuity.

**What are the responsibilities?**
- Responsible for maintaining business GP through effective management of stock and thresholds across the business, keeping in mind our core values of sustainability, efficiency, and reactiveness.
- knowledge of trends, prices, and worldwide shipping conditions to anticipate future material availability; directing purchasing programs accordingly.
- Working with our product development team to establish accurate forecasting for new / campaign products, tracking product onboarding and auditing well ahead of launch deadlines to ensure drop deadlines are hit.
- Ongoing Communication with suppliers to resolve problems that may arise regarding delivery, quality, price, or conditions of sale. Our Warehousing Team will report all issues to yourself directly.
- Collaborate with all departments to maximise efficiency in our purchasing and inventory control. Although not directly responsible for purchasing, you will hold planning responsibility for all component parts of our end products, and will work closely with our Production Operations & Tea Supply Chain Manager to assist in the continued smooth running of our Production room.
- Develop and implement new policies and procedures related to purchasing and inventory control with a goal to maximize efficiency, optimise workflow, and ultimately increase GP.
- Forecast seasonal supply and demand to prevent overstocking and ultimately ensure continued supply throughout the business.
- Working with Procurement to closely track all overseas imports and address any delays accordingly, assisting in communicating any forthcoming supply issues accordingly to relevant departments.
- Coordinate regular inventory audits across the business.
- Overseeing stock storage processes, to ensure that any large purchasing initiatives have been planned for from a Warehousing perspective.
- Anticipating and collaboratively planning for stock demands based on current and future business functions.

**Are there any perks?**

Of course there are, for all your hard work you will get:

- To be a member of a small independent who truly cares about its team and will support its team members in any areas in which they wish to grow.
- To be a member of a fun, friendly & supportive team who like to have fun at work.
- Free tea drinks when working
- Monthly tea allowance and a generous staff discount
- Retail Trust Membership -Supporting your wellbeing
- Membership of company pension scheme (if applicable)
- Holiday accrual that grows with loyalty
- Bike to work Scheme
- Working Festival Spaces

This is role is being offered at L2/L3. The salary range is £25k-£32k depending on experience.

**Now what?**

All that's left to do is gra