Demand Planner

***UPDATE: This is a functional demand planner role and requires hands on experience with demand planning, not just as an analyst. Also, this role requires the person to work onsite in South Holland, IL 4 days per week. This is not a remote position.***

Position Description:

The Demand Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining a reliable, data-driven demand forecast that supports the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process. The role focuses on statistical forecasting, promotion and event integration, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure supply alignment and service continuity.

In addition, this role provides approximately 25% (varies by week) Customer Service backup coverage, ensuring uninterrupted customer and order management support during peak periods or team absences.

Key Responsibilities:

Statistical Forecasting

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the statistical baseline forecast at the SKU-Customer level.
• Apply historical data, seasonality, trend analysis, and system-based forecasting algorithms.
• Identify and correct data anomalies including outliers, history gaps, and master data issues.
• Measure forecast performance using accuracy and bias metrics (e.g., WAPE, Bias) and drive forecast improvement actions.

Promotion and Event Integration

• Collect promotional plans, pricing actions, and volume assumptions from Sales.
• Build and maintain a structured Promotion / Event Calendar.
• Quantify promotional uplift and overlay it onto the statistical baseline forecast.
• Track promotional forecast performance and refine assumptions based on post-event analysis.

Collaboration and Communication

• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Scheduling, Supply Planning, and Operations to validate demand signals.
• Prepare all materials and decks for the monthly Demand review and weekly tactical S&OP demand check.
• Lead the weekly tactical S&OP meetings
• Support and present demand insights and opportunities during S&OP demand reviews
• Proactively communicate significant forecast changes or risks to Scheduling and Supply Planning teams.

Reporting and Analytics

• Prepare weekly and monthly demand reports highlighting forecast changes, key drivers, and exceptions.
• Maintain forecast dashboards and ensure data accuracy and consistency.
• Report weekly on the forecast accuracy and bias KPIs
• Identify demand risks, upside opportunities, and recommended mitigation actions.

Forecast Master Data and Process Improvement

• Maintain forecast hierarchies, product segmentation, and customer groupings.
• Support product lifecycle activities including new item introductions, phase-outs, and SKU rationalization.
• Identify and recommend improvements to forecasting tools, models, and demand planning processes.

Customer Service (approx. 25% of responsibilities)

• Provide backup coverage by entering customer orders into the ERP system.
• Process order changes, confirmations, and delivery updates accurately and timely.
• Respond to customer inquiries related to order status, availability, and delivery schedules.
• Support issue resolution including shortages, substitutions, delays, and backorders.
• Run daily backlog, open order, or shipment reports as required.
• Maintain full cross-training on Customer Service workflows to ensure seamless coverage and continuity.
• Report on weekly OTIF metric
• Other duties as assigned

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities:

• None

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Analytics, Economics, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain planning, or a related role.
• Hands-on experience with statistical forecasting models and demand planning systems.
• Working knowledge of Advanced Planning Systems (e.g., SAP, Blue Yonder, Relex, or similar).
• Experience supporting or participating in an S&OP or IBP process strongly preferred.
• Prior experience working with Sales, Customer Service, or Operations teams.
• Ability to provide backup Customer Service support when required.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently operates a computer, phone, ERP systems, and other standard office equipment while performing forecasting, reporting, order management, analytical activities, and reviewing spreadsheets, dashboards, reports, and ERP system information.
• Must be able to remain stationary for extended periods while working at a computer workstation and performing frequent hand, finger, and wrist movements for typing, data entry, and system navigation.
• Frequently communicates with internal departments, customers, suppliers, and other business partners in person, by phone, video conference, and electronic communication methods.
• Occasionally moves throughout office, warehouse, and manufacturing environments to support operational, inventory, scheduling, and customer service activities and may be exposed to varying temperatures within warehouse and manufacturing environments.
• May occasionally lift or move standard office materials up to 15 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Competencies:

• Business Acumen: Understands business implications of decisions, conducts cost-benefit analyses, displays orientation to profitability, and aligns work with strategic goals.
• Problem Solving: Ability to facilitate discussion, can differentiate between common cause and special cause, identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, understands cause versus effect, develops alternative solutions, resolves problems in early stages, and works well in group problem solving situations.
• Conflict Resolution: Able to encourage open communications, confront difficult situations, maintain objectivity, keep emotions under control, and use negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.
• Leadership: Exhibits ethical and moral behavior in everyday business conduct, earns trust of others by disclosing information and admitting mistakes, recognizes and resolves ethical questions, ensure organizational ethics are widely understood and encourages open discussion of ethical issues. Ability to influence and lead without formal oversight.
• Conflict Resolution: Able to encourage open communications, confront difficult situations, maintain objectivity, keep emotions under control, and use negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.

Core Values:

Exhibits the following company core values and regularly influences them to others

• We embrace our legacy and build for the future
• We take pride in all we do
• We make decisions and commit
• It’s a privilege to serve each other, our customers, and the community
• We are a team that plays to win

Benefits for this role include: Medical, vision, dental, discretionary bonus up to 12% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance), 401(k) with matching up to a max of 4% and 120 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months.