Demand Planner

Position Objective

The Demand Planner is accountable for all aspects of the company’s volume-based forecast. This role is responsible for the cross-functional consensus forecasting process, preparing materials as well as facilitating the Demand S&OP meetings, maintaining the company’s forecasting tool, and providing operational volume projections. The Demand Planner will have a unique opportunity to develop and implement new processes and technology to improve the organization’s demand planning maturity.

Key Result Areas

Performance Standards:

CORE VALUES

• Continuously exhibit and set the example for others in display of Company values: Customer Centric, Ambitious, Proactive, Innovative, Collaborative and Accountable.
  
  

Demand Planning

• Review and maintain demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation, in multiple time buckets, and multiple units of measure
• Use historical order data and standard statistical modeling techniques to generate the baseline statistical forecast
• Coordinate with the Sales organization and Product Management to incorporate market intelligence to enrich the baseline forecast and ensure known drivers are accounted for (e.g., new product introductions, customer gains and losses, etc.)
• Pressure test monthly sales input and validate forecast output at appropriate levels of aggregation before publishing monthly
• Collaborate with Supply Manager and FP&A Manager to ensure the proper translation of the unconstrained demand plan is actionable to support operations
• Facilitate the Demand IBP process
• Facilitate volume-based forecasting for the annual budget development process and quarterly financial forecasts
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop and maintain statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results
• Accountable for reporting forecast accuracy metrics and seek to continuously improve forecast accuracy by tracking and performing root-cause analyses - to improve both statistical methods and processes
• Coordinate with IT and other functions to ensure the underlying data/system, as required to support robust forecasting, are in-place
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of all components of the demand forecast including: statistical baseline, sales and marketing intelligence, new product introductions, and market trends
• Recognized as internal expert to business customers in the area of demand planning
• Provide demand-planning expertise to influence business strategies and decisions
  
  

Project Management

• Lead and initiate supply chain setups for new product/new customers
• Lead or support supply chain improvement projects as assigned
  
  

Other

• Perform other duties as assigned
  
  

Qualifications

A COMBINATION OF THE LISTED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IS PREFERRED

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree -- Supply Chain/Operations, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or other technical field
• Minimum 5 years of supply chain experience, with at least 3 years of experience in demand planning / forecasting role
• Experience operating with Demand Planning & Forecasting software (GAINSystems preferred)
• Experience with formal sales and operations planning (S&OP/IBP) process
• Advanced capabilities in Microsoft Excel and Power Query
• Strong analytical, organizational, decision making, and presentation skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and excellent customer service skills
• Strong oral, written, verbal communication and strong mathematical aptitude
• Ability to multi-task and work independently
  
  

Preferred Requirements

• Advanced degree in quantitative field
• APICS or IBF Certification
• Strong knowledge of advanced forecasting methods, probability & statistics
• Prior experience working with business intelligence software (i.e. Power BI, Tableau, ClickView)
• Understanding of new product commercialization and discontinuation processes
  
  

Other Factors

• Moderate traveling (10%) is required for this position
  
  

Working Conditions

• Normal office working environment