Demand Planning Manager, US Ag & B2B
Job Summary
The Demand Planning Manager oversees the demand planning and forecasting processes in UPL NA's key commercial units, US Ag and B2B. This role drives consensus demand plans across sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, and regulatory through cross-functional leadership.
Job Responsibilities
Lead Demand Planning & Forecasting: Own the end-to-end demand planning process for USAg and B2B units, ensuring forecasts are accurate, data-driven, and aligned with commercial strategy and financial targets.
S&OP Leadership: Facilitate and lead monthly Pre-S&OP and S&OP meetings for USAg and B2B, driving alignment across Commercial, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to reach consensus on demand, supply, and inventory plans.
APS Tool Implementation: Lead the project to implement a new APS tool in North America, ensuring that North America requirements are met across the F2S project either through a strong tool and process redesign.
Commercial Partnership: Collaborate closely with Country Heads, KAMs, and RSMs to analyze sales trends, customer insights, and market dynamics to inform demand forecasts and strategic decisions.
Strategic Analysis: Provide actionable insights through sales analytics, business trend analysis, and ad hoc reporting to support Commercial Leadership and FP&A teams.
Cross-Functional Communication: Act as a key liaison between Commercial, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to ensure transparency, coordination, and proactive issue resolution.
Customer & Channel Support: Support the development of distributor tools and communication materials that align with key business objectives and channel strategies.
Allocation & Initiative Planning: Partner with Commercial and Marketing teams to guide decisions on product allocations, quarterly initiatives, and production/packaging priorities.
Process Improvement: Build and mature regional demand planning processes, including systemic supply/capacity reviews and executive-level planning meetings.
Sales Planning Support: Assist in annual sales planning, budgeting, and quarterly target setting to ensure alignment with long-range plans and customer strategies.
Forecasting Execution: Implement and maintain forecasting processes with Commercial teams, updating monthly/quarterly as needed by division, segment, or geography.
Required Education And Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Statistics, or a related field
8+ years of experience in demand planning, commercial operations, or sales analytics
Strong analytical and organizational skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
Experience leading or participating in S&OP processes
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams
Proficiency in Excel and forecasting tools; experience with SAP or similar ERP systems preferred