Demand Planner

This position is a highly analytical supply chain role responsible for establishing sales forecasts and inventory targets for key strategic clients, as well as developing demand plans that enable the Inventory Management department to meet inventory and service objectives.

Responsibilities

• Understand the implications and influence of Supply Planners and drive effective communication and action with supply planning staff.
• Assemble and analyze all data pertinent to creating the sales forecast (historical sales, market trends, seasonality, promotions, and inventory levels).
• Continuously improve forecasting techniques, methods, and approach by quantifying data pulls and recommending solutions focusing on capacity management and department KPIs.
• Determine best methods to improve forecast accuracy.
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated customer demand assumptions.
• Understand how promotional activity, new product distribution, discontinued/replaced items, and seasonality impact volume fluctuations.
• Collaborate with Supply Planning to design, track, and report on promotions.
• Work cross-functionally with Supply Planning in developing proper stocking strategies.
• Build and maintain relevant reports pertaining to Demand Planning processes.
• Build and maintain relevant Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to Demand Planning processes.
• Actively participate in design, testing, and implementation of Blue Yonder upgrades and feature enhancements as needed.
• Actively participate in design, testing, and implementation of new tools as needed.
• Interact as appropriate with Field Services, Client Support, and Account Management to attain business intelligence vital to developing the most accurate forecast.
• Interact as necessary with other departments (Transportation, Warehouse Ops, Finance, Engineering) to provide forecast information relevant to their respective areas.
• Participate in and support new customer integration activities.
• Manage the Demand Planning function within the financial budgets and assist with budget development.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities in Demand Planning.
• Lead or participate on project teams as required.
• Perform root cause analysis in developing corrective action plans.
• Develop and manage relevant KPIs to support and measure the business.
• Assess technology requirements needed to support current or proposed business.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum: 2-5 years of inventory management experience and/or proven mastery of business analytics as it relates to inventory management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain, or other relevant experience.
• Strong analytical abilities and attention to detail.
• Experience using inventory management software (e.g., Blue Yonder, SAP, Manugistics).
• Experience using business intelligence applications to pull data, build reports, and make business decisions/recommendations (e.g., COGNOS).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact cross-functionally, with higher-level management, and with external clients.
• Strong understanding of Excel and/or PowerPoint.
• Ability to set priorities and make decisions in a dynamic work environment.
• Action-oriented, with good problem-solving, analytical, and math skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in product redistribution.
• Experience guiding projects and process development skills.
• Experience planning product with shelf life (e.g., perishables such as food).
• Experience planning product with varied lead times (e.g., international as well as domestic suppliers).
• Experience planning promotional product and limited-time offerings.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Work is usually performed in an office environment with normal noise levels. Involves prolonged sitting and computer usage. Business travel will be on an as-needed basis; expectation is less than 1%.