What are the responsibilities and job description for the Demand Planner II position at Vestis?
Position Overview
The Senior Demand Planner (Direct Sales) plays a critical role in the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, leading the Demand Review to align sales and operations on a 12–18-month operational forecast. This role is responsible for maintaining the Direct Sale forecast in Oracle, which informs supply planning, manufacturing, and procurement decisions. Additionally, the planner develops long-range forecasts to support annual inventory target setting and capacity planning.
Demand Planners develop the operational forecast by combining input from sales teams gathered during the S&OP process with the statistical forecast generated in Oracle. This forecast also incorporates installation data provided by sales. Planners are responsible for preparing pre-alignment and demand review meetings and are measured against a set of predefined performance metrics.
Essential Job Functions (specific to Direct Sale LOB)
- Ensures best-in-class forecast performance by managing and improving key metrics such as forecast accuracy and bias.
- Benchmarks forecast accuracy against industry standards across multiple product categories to support strategic planning and operational excellence.
- Collaborates with the Direct Sales team to develop a comprehensive 12–18-month demand plan that aligns with business goals and market expectations.
- Partners closely with the Supply Planning Manager to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and supply strategies, supporting optimal inventory levels and service performance
- On a weekly basis:
- Maintain the install forecast in Oracle, ensuring it reflects the most up-to-date and accurate demand signals.
- Monitor and track actual bookings versus forecast to identify variances and improve forecast accuracy.
- Review the statistical forecast (bookings forecast) generated in Oracle and evaluates its alignment with market trends and historical performance.
- Make informed adjustments to the forecast based on data analysis, cross-functional input, and business intelligence.
- Leverage forecast management experience to drive continuous improvement in demand planning processes and support strategic decision-making.
- Partner with Supply Chain New Install Manager and Supply Planning Manager where key forecast oversells/undersells are identified to create action plan to resolve.
- On a monthly basis:
- Review and incorporate key economic indicators and market trends into the demand plan to enhance forecast accuracy and support long-term business planning.
- Prepare pre-alignment and Demand Review presentations in weeks one and two of the S&OP cycle.
- Update Oracle with the consensus forecast.
- Make necessary adjustments to maintain target performance metrics.
- On a quarterly/annual basis:
- Supports annual planning by ensuring the demand forecast accurately reflects growth assumptions and input provided by Sales and Finance.
- Participate in seasonal strategy development & execution, led by Direct Sale Leadership Team and Marketing
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree – BS/BA in business, finance, marketing, industrial engineering or Supply Chain Management
- 5-8 years of analytical/systems experience
- Demonstrates strong initiative and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Excellent oral communication and presentation skills
- Experienced in actively participating in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) routines
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while consistently meeting deadlines.
- Possesses excellent analytical skills with a proven track record of effective problem-solving and data-driven decision making.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint
- Preferred, but not required:
- Experience with Oracle, Power BI and Access
- Practical experience in Supply chain planning, purchasing or distribution of product