Demand Planner

Location:

Western Cape, WC, ZA, 7459

Salary:

Market Related

Division:

Group Operations

Department:

Business Partnering

Education

Learning changes lives – and we’re here to drive that change. We support people wherever and however they want to learn, so they can achieve their learning goals and uncover new possibilities.

Today, we reach more learners than ever, in more ways than ever. And we’re just getting started.

Demand Planner (Permanent Role)

About the Role

Oxford University Press (OUP) has established an integrated global Manufacturing, Inventory, and Procurement Planning function, bringing together key supply chain activities to drive efficiency, collaboration, and operational excellence.

Working as part of the Inventory and Manufacturing team, this role is responsible for the demand plan for local and import titles across Africa.

You will be involved with the continuous Demand Review Process and will collaborate with colleagues from the Business, including Sales, Publishing, Content Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to understand the key upstream and downstream drivers within the end-to-end value chain.

This is a crucial role in ensuring customer needs are anticipated and that the business has planned sufficiently far ahead to meet the customer demand effectively. We are committed to a reduction in waste, reduction in inventory, and environmental footprint so an appreciation for these factors alongside our customer focused drivers will be key to the success of the applicant.

The Demand Planner will report to the Inventory and Manufacturing Manager. This post is based in Cape Town, at the Goodwood office.

In this role, you will:

Demand Planning and Forecasting:

Develop and maintain demand forecasts for local and import titles.

Analyze historical sales, trends, seasonality, lifecycle changes, and promotional impacts.

Integrate publishing plans and market intelligence into the forecast.

Continuously refine methodologies.

Sales & Operations Planning

Own and run the Demand Review step of the S&OP cycle.

Facilitate cross-functional discussions to challenge inputs and align assumptions.

Document decisions, assumptions, and open actions for escalation or follow-up.

Decision Support, Governance and Escalation

Monitor approval parameters and escalation thresholds.

Escalate decisions that exceed agreed tolerance levels via S&OP forums.

Clearly articulate risks, options, and recommendations without owning final approval.

Cross-functional Collaboration

Act as the single point of coordination for demand-related discussions.

Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Publishing, Content Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.

Set clear expectations for forecast inputs, timing, and data quality.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

Define, track, and report demand planning KPIs.

Perform root cause analysis for forecast errors and bias.

Agree and track corrective actions with stakeholders.

Contribute to SOPs, standardization, and capability development.

Systems & Data Management

Use demand planning systems and reporting tools to build and track forecasts.

Leverage SAP, QlikSense, Excel, and related tools for insight generation.

Identify data or system gaps and collaborate with relevant teams to address them.

About You:

Essential Criteria:

Degree in Supply Chain, Statistics, Data Analytics, Economics, Engineering, or a related discipline (preferred), or equivalent practical experience in demand planning or supply chain roles.

Experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain analytics roles.

Solid understanding of demand planning, forecasting methodologies, and their operational and financial impacts.

Experience working within an S&OP framework.

Strong data analysis skills, including advanced Excel capability.

Ability to facilitate and chair cross-functional meetings.

Desirable Criteria:

Exposure to publishing, education, retail, FMCG, manufacturing, or similar industries advantageous.

Working knowledge of demand planning and ERP systems (SAP is strongly advantageous).

Closing date: 13 July 2026

Oxford University Press, an equal opportunity employer, seeks a talented individual to fill this post based at Goodwood, Cape Town. Oxford University Press will consider all applications in terms of its Employment Equity Plan, which acknowledges the need for transformation.

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.

Job Category:

Support & Operations