Customer Demand Manager

At GKN Aerospace, the Customer Demand Manager ensures that customer demand is translated into a reliable and controlled demand signal for the organization. By leading the Customer Demand Officer team, this role safeguards forecast integrity, demand visibility, and alignment between customers, programs, supply chain, and production. The role drives the operational execution of the demand management process and ensures the organization can deliver against customer commitments while maintaining planning stability.

You will lead a team of Customer Demand Officers responsible for translating customer demand into a stable and predictable plan. The role sits at the center of the demand planning process and ensures that forecasts, order books, and customer commitments are accurately reflected in the planning system and aligned with operational capabilities. This role requires someone who understands the mechanics of demand planning, the discipline of SIOP/MPS processes, and the leadership required to run a high-performance demand management team.

Job Summary

The Customer Demand Manager ensures that customer demand is translated into a reliable and controlled demand signal for the organization while safeguarding forecast integrity, demand visibility, and alignment between customers, programs, supply chain, and production. The role leads the operational execution of the demand management process so the organization can deliver against customer commitments while maintaining planning stability.

Job Responsibilities

1. Lead the Customer Demand Management Team

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Customer Demand Officers.
• Define clear roles, priorities, and workload distribution across programs/customers.
• Ensure consistent application of demand management standards, processes, and tools.
• Drive performance through structured KPI management and regular performance reviews.

2. Own the Demand Management Process

• Ensure accurate maintenance of forecasts, order books, and customer demand signals in ERP systems.
• Safeguard the integrity of demand data and master data.
• Ensure contractual commitments, configuration changes, and program updates are correctly reflected in the demand signal.
• Monitor forecast volatility and coordinate mitigation actions with stakeholders.

3. Drive SIOP and MPS Demand Alignment

• Lead the demand side of the Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) process.
• Ensure demand inputs are validated, structured, and aligned before entering the planning cycle.
• Translate demand developments into clear inputs for Master Production Scheduling (MPS).
• Identify demand risks and opportunities early and escalate when required.

4. Customer Demand & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the internal escalation point for demand-related customer topics in alignment with the customer account managers.
• Align closely with Customer Account Managers, Program Management, Supply Planning, and Operations.
• Ensure customer demand changes are analysed, communicated, and translated into actionable plans.

5. Demand Analysis & Scenario Planning

• Lead structured analysis of demand deviations and forecast accuracy.
• Run scenario planning to understand operational impact of demand changes.
• Provide management insight on demand trends, risks, and capacity implications.

6. Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in demand planning processes, tools, and data quality.
• Standardize best practices across programs and customers.
• Lead initiatives to improve forecast accuracy, planning stability, and demand visibility.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate demonstrates strong capability across the following areas:

Demand Planning Expertise

• Deep understanding of demand planning, forecast management, and order book control.
• Ability to translate customer signals into a structured demand plan.

SIOP / Planning Process Discipline

• Strong knowledge of integrated planning processes and planning governance.
• Ability to structure demand inputs for planning cycles.

Analytical Rigor

• Strong analytical capability to interpret demand signals, trends, and impacts.
• Ability to perform scenario analysis and support decision making.

Leadership & Team Development

• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop planning professionals.
• Ability to build a structured and disciplined team environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Strong stakeholder management across programs, supply chain, customers and operations.
• Ability to align conflicting priorities and drive decisions.

Systems & Digital Tools

• Experience working with ERP planning systems and data analysis tools.
• Strong data mindset with focus on data quality and planning discipline.

Continuous Improvement Mindset

• Ability to improve processes, drive standardization, and implement best practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Experience in a similar role within a manufacturing company in the aerospace sector or other relevant industries such as the automotive, medical or semiconductor sectors.
• Significant experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, or program demand management.
• Experience leading teams within a supply chain or planning environment.
• Experience working with ERP planning systems and structured planning processes.

What’s in it for you?

Besides an innovative and international work environment that offers you a good work-life balance, GKN Aerospace offers opportunities to learn and grow.