Global Demand Planner

Ohly is the third largest yeast extract producer in the world with sites in Germany and the USA. We develop, produce and deliver high-quality yeast-based flavours and specialty powders. Ohly is part of the $17.6bn turnover Associated British Food (ABF) Group. ABF is a broad portfolio of businesses which includes Primark, Ovaltine, Twinings, AB Enzymes, and is the world’s second largest producer of both sugar and baker’s yeast.

ABF takes a long-term perspective on investment and performance, and stimulates entrepreneurship by giving high degrees of autonomy to operational businesses. This means that decisions are taken as close as possible to their point of impact allowing teams the freedom to act, in order to be successfully flexible and fast. ABF invests a great deal in selecting and developing the right people for Ohly and the broader ABF group of companies.

Ohly has a great opportunity for a Global Demand Planner to join our team in Chicago IL / Boyceville WI / remotely.

As a Global Demand Planner, you play a key role in shaping our global commercial success. Using your analytical strength, understanding of market dynamics, and collaborative mindset, you create accurate product demand forecasts that guide business decisions across Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Innovation.

You monitor industry trends and identify demand patterns, proactively communicate forecast changes, and support leadership with risk assessments and mitigation strategies. With your strong communication skills, customer orientation, and cross‑functional leadership, you ensure that the demand planning process runs smoothly across our global organization.

• Develop, maintain, and communicate global demand forecasts using historical data, seasonality, and variability metrics in collaboration with Sales and key internal/external partners (Finance, Supply Chain, Innovation, Customers, Distributors)
• Build effective forecast models based on market trends and demand patterns
• Support management with risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Propose and implement forecast accuracy improvements
• Monitor and report on changes in sales forecasts, budgets, and strategic initiatives
• Conduct monthly forecast updates and ensure data accuracy
• Actively resolve demand‑related issues in a timely manner
• Coordinate customer expectations and information with Production Planning and Finance

• Proactively gather customer demand information
• Perform variance analyses in coordination with Sales/Finance
• Maintain an overview of historical sales data and upcoming development projects impacting demand

• Partner with Platforms to support business development and new opportunities
• Lead the Demand Management step of the S&OP process
• Organize, coordinate, and moderate the monthly demand review meetings
• Develop Power BI reports to support Sales and Platform leadership
• Contribute to the annual budgeting process through analysis of demand trends and customer insights
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to continuously refine planning processes
• Engage with distributors to validate forecast information
• Manage overstock and slow‑moving items, coordinating solutions with Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and annual reports including sales variances and root‑cause explanations
• Distribute key communications to distributors, brokers, and direct customers regarding product or business changes
• Serve as the “voice of the customer”, conveying demand expectations to Sales and Platforms
• Manage and upload key documents in CRM systems

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related fields
• Minimum 3 years of experience in demand planning or forecasting
• Experience with S&OP processes
• Strong understanding of inventory management principles
• Proven experience working in cross‑functional teams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, able to manage complexity and prioritize effectively
• Self‑driven and proactive; able to work independently and drive cross‑functional results
• Strong computer skills: MS Office, D365, Power BI, CRM systems
• Experience with statistical forecasting software
• High energy, positive attitude, and a professional, goal‑oriented approach

• Professional experience in the food industry
• Fluency in German

• International travel required 2-3 times per year, primarily to other sites for internal meetings

We look forward to your application including information about your earliest possible start date and salary expectations!