What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Demand Planner position at RFD Beaufort, Inc.?
Job Description: Senior Demand Planner
Position Summary
The Senior Demand Planner supports manufacturing operations with responsibility for developing accurate demand forecasts to drive production planning, procurement, and inventory strategies. This role ensures compliance with FAR and DFARS requirements impacting forecasting, materials planning, documentation, and supplier communication. The Senior Demand Planner provides critical analysis to help the organization meet delivery commitments, manage controlled materials, and maintain compliance with government reporting, audit, and recordkeeping requirements.
Key Responsibilities – Forecasting & Analytics
Develop, maintain, and improve demand forecasts using historical data, customer schedules, government program requirements, and contract-driven demand signals.
Ensure forecasting processes comply with FAR and DFARS documentation standards, including traceability, change control, and retention requirements.
Analyze variability in demand from government contracts, IDIQ schedules, and task orders.
Conduct root-cause analysis of forecast accuracy failures and implement corrective actions.
Present forecast performance metrics with compliance considerations and documentation.
Key Responsibilities – S&OP / Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Lead the demand planning portion of the S&OP process, integrating program-based demand and multi-year contract requirements.
Collaborate with Program Management, Sales, Operations, and Finance to reconcile forecast assumptions with government-driven contract modifications, CLIN updates, and delivery schedules.
Communicate demand risks, opportunities, and funding-related impacts tied to contract ceilings.
Ensure S&OP outputs support compliant purchasing, material planning, and subcontractor communication.
Key Responsibilities – Inventory, Production, and Compliance Alignment
Support inventory planning for controlled materials, including ITAR/EAR items, and ensure forecasting aligns with compliance-driven material segregation and traceability.
Work with procurement and operations to ensure demand forecasts align with production capacity, government contract delivery schedules, and surge requirements.
Support safety stock modeling for government programs, including contractually defined readiness levels.
Provide input for capacity planning, long-range planning, and government program lifecycle management.
Key Responsibilities – Systems & Process Improvement
Utilize and enhance ERP/MRP and forecasting systems to ensure data integrity and compliance with FAR/DFARS requirements.
Maintain documentation supporting audits, including forecast assumptions, revision histories, supplier communications, and schedule changes.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to forecasting accuracy, compliance controls, and audit readiness.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Statistics, or related field (Master's preferred).
5–8 years of experience in demand planning or forecasting in a manufacturing environment; experience with government contracting preferred.
Familiarity with FAR Part 15, DFARS material traceability rules, contract change control,
and government audit requirements preferred.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (IFS preferred).
APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) strongly preferred.
Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
Key Performance Indicators
Forecast accuracy.
Compliance with FAR/DFARS forecasting and recordkeeping requirements.
Inventory turns and working capital performance.
On-time delivery (OTD) for government programs.
S&OP process effectiveness and documentation quality.