Sr. Demand Planner
About the Role
Avantor is seeking a Senior Demand Planner to drive forecast accuracy and align demand plans with commercial strategies, inventory targets, and financial objectives within the Avantor Fluid Handling (AFH) business segment. This role is critical to the distribution make-to-stock business, ensuring procurement actions align with inventory planning and commercial strategies. The position involves developing and managing accurate demand forecasts across multiple ERP systems to support both distribution and manufacturing business units.
This full-time position can be based out of our Devens, MA or Barrington, IL offices. You will act as a key liaison between commercial, supply chain, finance, manufacturing, and operations teams.
Responsibilities
- Provide actionable insights to optimize inventory, service levels, and profitability.
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve statistical and collaborative demand forecasts across multiple ERP platforms.
- Analyze historical data, market trends, and customer insights to ensure forecast accuracy and minimize bias.
- Monitor forecast variances and exceptions, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure data integrity across ERP systems, facilitate master data updates, and execute cross-platform data transfers as needed.
- Support monthly S&OP and bi-weekly S&OE meetings, ensuring alignment between demand, supply, and financial planning objectives.
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to resolve gaps and support strategic decision-making.
- Partner with procurement, production, and logistics teams to ensure operational feasibility of demand plans.
- Communicate risks, opportunities, and actionable insights to stakeholders proactively.
- Drive process enhancements and leverage advanced planning tools to improve forecast accuracy and efficiency.
- Support digital transformation initiatives, including adoption of advanced analytics and visualization platforms.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support business objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Mathematics, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years of experience in demand planning or supply chain management, preferably in multi-ERP environments utilizing advanced forecasting systems/tools.
- Strong knowledge of S&OP/S&OE processes and best practices.
- Extensive knowledge of Supply Chain Management.
Skills
- Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in ERP systems and forecasting tools; experience with data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI) preferred.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills for influencing cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to interpret complex data and communicate to all levels of the organization.
- APICS CPIM certification preferred; experience with AI-driven or machine learning forecasting tools is a plus.
- Strong analytical skills including advanced use of MS Access, Excel, SQL, and programming in VBA or similar languages.
- Ability to apply Six Sigma techniques for structured problem-solving and process improvements.
- Ability to teach and transfer skills to team members and general audiences.
- Strong knowledge of process mapping.
Working Conditions
Typically works in an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level. While examining processes at a warehouse, exposure to an industrial environment may occur, including loud moving mechanical machinery, dust, fumes, or gases. Work assignments are diversified, with frequent volume and deadlines imposing strain. Minimal physical effort is required; work is mostly sedentary but may involve walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting, or carrying objects that typically weigh less than 10 lbs.
Pay
The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $78,000.00 - $125,350.00. Actual pay may differ depending on prior experience and geographic location.