Interim Head of F,A&R (Forecasting, Allocation & Replenishment)
Contract: 12-18 months (will consider full or part-time)
IR35: Outside IR35
Start: ASAP
Rate: £850-900/day.
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 to shape the future operating model, governance, and ways of working
- Provide oversight on 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, Blue Yonder, 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, Blue Yonder, 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.