About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world's leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation - always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Main Purpose of the Role

The (Senior) Demand Planner is responsible for creating and maintaining an accurate demand forecast to support business and operational planning. This role combines data analysis with close collaboration across Sales and Business Units to drive consensus and manage market volatility risks. Additionally, you will act as a key bridge between business operations and our technical team to help adopt next-gen digital and AI tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Ownership: Own and execute the monthly demand planning and forecasting process, consolidating various inputs across sales, baseline data, order books, life-cycle management information, and customer forecasts.
• S&OP Alignment: Facilitate forecasting meetings across various Business Units and Sales Organizations to drive consensus, and actively contribute to the broader monthly demand review and S&OP cycles.
• Performance Analytics: Deep-dive into forecast accuracy to identify root causes of deviations and translate data into actionable insights for executive decision-making.
• Continuous Innovation: Drive continuous improvement in data quality, integrating market intelligence and modern forecasting methodologies to elevate the process.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the business counterpart to our technical team members, collaborating on data quality, KPIs, and the integration of digital tools.

Requirements

• Education: University degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Data Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience: 3+ years of relevant experience in demand planning, supply chain orchestration, or a highly analytical business role.
• Process Know-how: Hands-on experience with baseline forecasting, demand planning cycles, and ERP/MRP environments.
• Communication: Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear business stories.
• Languages: Fluent in English (German is a plus).

Nice-to-Have

• Experience or strong interest in AI-driven forecasting methodologies, machine learning applications in supply chain, or predictive analytics.
• Familiarity with modern data stack environments and visualization tools (e.g., PowerBI, Tableau, or collaborating on Python-based prototypes).
• Background in incorporating external market intelligence or macro data trends into internal baseline forecasts.