Head of F,A&R

Posted 4 days 13 hours ago by Aria Intelligent Solutions

Permanent
Full Time
Other
London, United Kingdom
Job Description
Interim Head of F, A & R (Forecasting, Allocation & Replenishment)

Contract: 12-18 months (will consider full or part-time)

IR35: Outside IR35

Start: ASAP

Location: London, UK. Hybrid.

Context & Role

Our client is implementing a next-generation, AI/ML-enabled forecasting, allocation and replenishment capability and is looking for an interim Head of F, A & R to provide senior functional leadership through phase 1 of delivery.

This is a hands-on operational role. The individual will act as the functional lead for the programme, helping shape how the capability should operate, guiding key decisions through design/build/test/pilot, and ensuring outputs are commercially and operationally viable.

There is potential for the role to convert to a permanent Head of F, A & R post-pilot.

Ad hoc travel within the UK will be required.

Key Responsibilities
  • Act as the senior business lead for F, A & R during the pilot
  • Help shape the future operating model, governance, and ways of working
  • Provide oversight of forecasting and replenishment outputs
  • Guide exception/override philosophy and decision-making
  • Work closely with vendor and programme teams on solution behaviour and configuration
  • Ensure outputs align with real-world retail operations (stores, depots, constraints)
  • Bring judgement to key trade-offs (e.g. availability vs. stock)
  • Capture pilot learnings and inform rollout direction
Profile Required
  • Former Head/Director level in F & R, Replenishment, Stock Optimisation, or similar
  • Experience in a high-volume, multi-site retailer
  • Strong understanding of store-level forecasting, allocation, and replenishment
  • Experience with modern planning tools (e.g. RELEX, BlueYonder, o9, ToolsGroup)
  • Able to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels
  • Credible senior operator
Typical backgrounds include
  • UK grocery: Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons
  • General merchandise: M&S, Next, John Lewis, Argos
  • (Selective) vendor experience: RELEX, BlueYonder, o9 - where combined with strong retail exposure
Screening Focus
  • Has owned F, A & R / DC to store replenishment in a retail environment
  • Experience shaping or implementing store ordering capabilities
  • Comfortable bridging system outputs and commercial reality
  • Strong grasp of retail operational constraints
  • Able to work across business and technology teams

If this sounds like the role for your, please apply via the link.