Careem
Demand Planning Manager – Groceries
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 2 - 5 yrs
Job expiry date: 03/04/2026
Job overview
Date posted
17/02/2026
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 20,000 - 30,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package
Experience
2 - 5 yrs
Seniority
Manager
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
03/04/2026
Job description
The Demand Planning Manager – Groceries is responsible for leading demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) for Careem’s fast-growing quick commerce grocery vertical in Dubai. As part of Careem Grocery, a startup within Careem, this role plays a critical function in ensuring accurate demand projections, minimizing stockouts, improving inventory turnover, and enabling seamless supply chain execution. The role requires strong analytical capabilities, operational agility, and cross-functional collaboration with commercial, marketing, logistics, and supplier teams. The ideal candidate combines data-driven decision-making with hands-on execution and thrives in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment where AI and automation are leveraged to enhance operational efficiency.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Develop accurate demand forecasts using historical sales data, seasonality trends, promotional calendars, customer behavior insights, and market intelligence.
- Design and implement statistical forecasting models to improve forecast accuracy across multiple product categories in a quick commerce environment.
- Manage demand variability by analyzing drivers such as promotions, holidays, weather patterns, competitive activity, and external market shifts.
- Lead the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, facilitating cross-functional alignment between supply, commercial, and operations teams.
- Prepare and present demand planning reports, performance dashboards, and KPIs (e.g., forecast accuracy, fill rate, inventory turnover, stockout rates) to senior leadership.
- Collaborate with marketing and commercial teams to incorporate campaign forecasts, new product launches, and promotional uplifts into demand plans.
- Optimize inventory levels across distribution centers to balance product availability with working capital efficiency and waste reduction.
- Work closely with suppliers and logistics teams to align replenishment strategies with forecasted demand and lead times.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance forecast accuracy, reduce shrinkage, and improve supply chain responsiveness.
- Analyze large datasets using Excel and SQL to identify demand patterns, performance gaps, and operational inefficiencies.
- Leverage demand planning tools and automation solutions to streamline forecasting workflows and reduce manual processes.
- Support new product introductions and category expansions by developing launch forecasts and monitoring early sales performance.
- Provide real-time operational follow-ups to mitigate risks such as stockouts, overstock, and demand spikes.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, technology, finance, and supplier teams to ensure seamless execution of demand plans.
- Identify opportunities to integrate AI-driven insights and predictive analytics into demand planning processes.
Experience & skills
- Minimum 4+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain, operations, or a related analytical role.
- Experience in quick commerce, e-commerce, tech startups, or logistics environments is highly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field (preferred).
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills with advanced proficiency in Excel (mandatory).
- Working knowledge of SQL for data extraction and analysis is highly desirable.
- Proven experience leading or contributing to S&OP processes in dynamic, high-growth environments.
- Strong understanding of inventory management principles, replenishment strategies, and supply chain performance metrics.
- Ability to manage demand volatility and translate data insights into actionable operational decisions.
- High attention to detail with strong execution speed and ability to manage daily operational follow-ups.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage suppliers, distribution center teams, and senior stakeholders.
- Self-starter mindset with the ability to independently source data, investigate trends, and drive insights.
- Resilient, hands-on, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.