Demand Planning Manager - UAE

At Arla, we do so much more than make some of the world’s favorite dairy products. We make healthy tastes delicious, mornings worth getting up for and family dinners unforgettable. Puck®, Lurpak®, Three Cows®, Starbucks®, and Castello® – names like these make us a vital, natural part of modern life in over 100 countries around the world. There are 3000+ employees in the Middle East and Africa and 20,000 global employees at the heart of our business. Every single one of us plays an important role and together we build on our 10bn Euros turnover and establish our position as one of the largest dairy companies in the world.

Are you looking for an opportunity to develop, lead, and manage demand planning across the S&OP horizon, working closely with Sales, Marketing, Planning, and customers? In this role, you will create a robust 0–18 month demand plan across the business, covering both base and activity-driven planning at SKU level. You will convert volume forecasts into value forecasts and lead the handover to Finance. If this sounds like you, you could be our new Demand Planning Manager, based in our UAE office and reporting to the Head of Sales – UOQ.

How Would You Make An Impact In This Role

• Develops and implements business plans based on Arla Foods’ strategy.
• Financial understanding and work within the framework set by corporate finance.
• Sets goals and objectives for the planning function based on the functional strategy/plan.
• Monitor procedures and analyse results/KPIs to ensure planning quality.
• Communicates and coordinates with other managers to drive action and results from key demand insights identified & ensure high-quality planning information and results (Category, Sales, Supply chain, and other planning units).
• Manage the development of accurate and timely forecasts based on sales history and gather information from category and commercials.
• Sustain inventory guidelines and provide closed-loop feedback regarding forecast trends and accuracy
• Prepare & Review the demand monthly with the Channel head’s (Traditional Trade and Modern Trade) category/ SKU level.
• Contributes to the evolution of the demand planning strategy within the Business Unit.
• An Effort to create equilibrium between demand and supply by collaborating with commercial and supply chain teams to reduce deviations in product demands through monitoring and reporting forecast Accuracy/ Bias.
• Develop key metrics and measurements for senior management to facilitate effective decision-making, drive S&OP process, and meetings and highlight demand-supply potential gaps.
• Preparing Depot replenishment plan and sharing with supply planning to dispatch the stocks.
• Integrate central events (New Product launches, Promotions & Seasonality) into baseline forecast and update the operational forecast within the planning horizon and according to related functions agreed plans
• Provide key forecast insights, leading with Planning to resolve and or avoid supply/demand issues.
  
  

Another important aspect of this job is making sure that required products are available at the right time without the build-up of too many stocks. This is very crucial for the business as most of the key deliverables of the business-like operating working capital and contribution margin are influenced directly by the performance of this position.

Solid background in planning and forecasting

Have a Master’s degree level within Supply Chain Management with a solid background and 5-7 years of supply chain leadership experience, as well as strong proficiency with Integrated Business Planning (IBP) tool would be highly desirable. You have the analytical, thinking, and business analytics and can work with a broad set of data and make confident recommendations. You should be able to work across functions in a multicultural environment and be a team player that fosters optimism and collaboration.

What We Offer

At Arla, we are committed to professional development and promoting from within. You will join a positive, collaborative culture and a market leader with household-favorite brands, contributing to sustainable practices that benefit our customers, farmers, and the planet.

Would you like to join us?

If you want to be part of a dynamic team and help shape the future of dairy, seize this exciting opportunity! The closing date will be 6th May 2026.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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