Forecasting Analyst

As a Forecasting Analyst, you will create the demand forecasts that drive our entire supply chain. Using machine learning platforms, you will analyse data at an item-location level to ensure our stock ordering and replenishment plans are highly accurate. Your work will be a key part of our Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), ensuring our commercial goals perfectly match our logistics and supplier capabilities.

Beyond the data, you will use your insights and exception modeling to guide planning decisions across our Commercial, Supply Chain, and Distribution teams. Whether you are managing everyday category performance or planning for major promotional events, you will continuously refine our forecasts to support successful trading and the wider Partnership's plans.

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £5.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Expected salary - Salary up to £50,000, depending on experience

Contract type - This position is Permanent

Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team aims for around 3 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings. Core days are currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Please note, some on call weekend working is expected for this role, on a rota basis

Location - This role is based at our Bracknell Head Office

Key responsibilities

• Analyse complex data and optimise enterprise planning tools to maximise forecast accuracy and reduce manual overrides.
• Act as the primary forecasting voice in S&OP forums, ensuring Commercial, Supply Chain, and Distribution plans are fully aligned.
• Translate complex technical data into clear, actionable insights to build credibility and influence non-technical stakeholders.
• Create robust forecasting models for changing trading conditions and seasonal events, carefully balancing stock availability with wastage reduction.
• Identify internal and external data sources, such as weather and local events, to continually refine and improve demand forecasts.
• Automate workflow bottlenecks, conduct routine data cleansing, and create best practice guides to eliminate manual effort.
• Mentor cross-functional partners on data literacy while ensuring full compliance with GDPR and GSCOP regulations.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Proven background in item-location demand forecasting within retail, FMCG, or a complex supply chain environment.
• Hands-on proficiency with enterprise demand planning systems (e.g., Luminate Demand Edge) and data querying/visualisation tools like Tableau, Snowflake, or SQL.
• Strong ability to analyse large datasets, detect anomalies, cleanse data, and build scenario models.
• Experience supporting Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align commercial demand with operational execution.
• Excellent collaborative skills, with a track record of translating complex technical insights into clear language for non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Previous experience working within cross-functional agile teams or "Pods" alongside Commercial and Supply Chain partners.
• Proven success in automating workflows, writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and reducing manual system overrides.

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We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. 

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