Head of F,A&R

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.