What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Demand Planning Analyst position at Topco Associates?
Overview:
Topco’s mission is to deliver solutions that help our member owners, regional retailers, and wholesalers achieve a competitive advantage. We are committed to building high-performing, diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve and drive innovation across our business.
Position Summary
As a senior contributor within the Demand Planning organization, this role partners closely with Supply Planning, Category Management, Sourcing, Suppliers, and Member teams to align demand signals with operational and business objectives. The Senior Analyst supports both day-to-day planning execution and broader strategic initiatives, including supplier transitions, new item launches, forecasting process enhancements, and planning system improvements.
Success in this role requires strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, effective communication skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Responsibilities:
Topco strives for a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects our member shopper’s communities. If your experience similarly reflects what you see listed in the job description, please consider applying, as individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence; therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.
Topco is an equal employment opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis, including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political belief, veteran's status, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000/annually Benefits:
Topco Associates is currently seeking a Senior Demand Planning Analyst for the Supply Chain team in Itasca, IL. This position will be a hybrid role, with the successful candidate conducting work in our Itasca office three times per week and virtually twice per week.
Topco’s mission is to deliver solutions that help our member owners, regional retailers, and wholesalers achieve a competitive advantage. We are committed to building high-performing, diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve and drive innovation across our business.
Position Summary
The Senior Demand Planning Analyst plays a key role in driving accurate, timely, and actionable demand forecasts across a complex grocery and consumer products network. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining demand plans, identifying trends and risks, and partnering cross-functionally to improve forecast accuracy, inventory performance, and service levels.
As a senior contributor within the Demand Planning organization, this role partners closely with Supply Planning, Category Management, Sourcing, Suppliers, and Member teams to align demand signals with operational and business objectives. The Senior Analyst supports both day-to-day planning execution and broader strategic initiatives, including supplier transitions, new item launches, forecasting process enhancements, and planning system improvements.
Success in this role requires strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, effective communication skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Demand Forecasting & Planning
- Develop, manage, and continuously refine demand forecasts across assigned categories, suppliers, and product portfolios
- Analyze historical sales, seasonality, promotional activity, market trends, and member inputs to improve forecast accuracy and responsiveness
- Maintain forecast assumptions and adjust demand plans based on changing business conditions, supply constraints, and emerging risks
- Support planning activities related to new item launches, item transitions, discontinuations, and supplier changes
- Monitor forecast performance and identify root causes of forecast variance and bias to drive continuous improvement
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Supply Planning teams to align demand forecasts with supply and inventory strategies
- Collaborate with Category Management, Sourcing, Suppliers, and Member teams to validate assumptions and align on volume expectations
- Lead collaborative planning discussions that improve forecast visibility, decision-making, and operational readiness
- Proactively communicate demand risks, opportunities, and forecast changes to stakeholders across the organization
Analytics, Reporting & KPI Management
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators, including forecast accuracy, forecast bias, and service-level performance
- Translate data analysis and trend insights into actionable business recommendations
- Maintain reporting tools, dashboards, and forecast performance metrics
- Support leadership reporting and business reviews through clear, concise, and data-driven analysis
Process Improvement & Systems Support
- Identify forecasting gaps, process inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve planning effectiveness
- Contribute to the development and standardization of demand planning processes, tools, and documentation
- Support planning system enhancements, implementations, and data governance initiatives
- Partner cross-functionally to improve planning workflows, reporting automation, and forecast collaboration processes
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, Analytics, or a related field
- 4 years of experience in Demand Planning, Forecasting, Supply Chain, Inventory Planning, or related analytical roles
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and translate insights into business decisions
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, formulas, and data analysis
- Experience working with ERP and/or demand planning systems
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience within grocery, retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG), food manufacturing, distribution, or group purchasing organizations
- Experience with demand planning platforms such as SAP APO, SAP IBP, Blue Yonder, or Kinaxis RapidResponse strongly preferred
- Experience using data visualization and analytics tools such as Tableau or Microsoft Power BI
- Knowledge of forecasting methodologies, inventory management principles, and supply chain planning processes
- Experience supporting cross-functional planning initiatives
Topco strives for a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects our member shopper’s communities. If your experience similarly reflects what you see listed in the job description, please consider applying, as individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence; therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.
Topco is an equal employment opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis, including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political belief, veteran's status, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
- Medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO and HDHP offered)
- Health Savings Account
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Annual flexible spending accounts
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Competitive 401(k) match
- Generous PTO offered
Salary : $85,000 - $95,000