Merchandise Demand Planner

About the role

The Demand Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate demand forecasts to support sales, inventory, and customer service objectives. This individual contributor partners cross-functionally to translate data, trends, and business inputs into actionable demand plans that drive business performance. The role operates in a professional office or remote environment with frequent virtual meetings and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Skills For Success

To excel in this role, you will need to demonstrate strengths in the following skill areas:

• Demand Forecasting: Develop and maintain top-down and bottom-up demand forecasts across weekly, monthly, and seasonal horizons.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Analyze historical sales, trends, demand drivers, and category, SKU, and regional performance to identify risks and opportunities.
• Reforecasting & Forecast Accuracy: Perform in-season reforecasting, monitor forecast accuracy, and conduct root-cause analysis on forecast variances.
• Inventory & Financial Alignment: Support alignment of demand forecasts with sales, margin, inventory, open-to-buy, and financial targets; identify over/under-bought risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Cross-Functional Planning: Partner with Merchandising, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Inventory, and Finance to gather inputs and communicate forecast updates, risks, and opportunities.
• Product & Assortment Planning: Incorporate product launches and lifecycle changes into forecasts; support assortment planning, product performance analysis, and test strategies.
• Planning Systems & Reporting: Utilize demand planning systems, ERP platforms, Microsoft Excel, and BI tools to generate reporting and actionable insights.
• Process Improvement: Maintain data integrity and support continuous improvement of demand planning and S&OP/demand review processes.

Preferred Competencies & Skills

• Experience in a retail, omnichannel, or consumer goods environment
• Familiarity with S&OP / Integrated Business Planning processes
• Experience with Power BI, ERP systems, or demand planning tools
• Strong business acumen and understanding of cross-functional impacts on demand and inventory

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related field
• 3–5+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or inventory planning
• Experience working with forecasting tools, data analysis, and reporting
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to analyze large data sets and generate actionable insights
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Detail-oriented approach to planning and analysis

Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role. The individual is required to sit for extended periods, use a computer, and communicate effectively. Occasional walking and standing may be required. This is a full-time position; occasional extended hours may be required to meet business needs, and limited travel may be expected.

Expected Base Pay

$72,000 - $90,000