Demand Planner

Client Overview A well-established and growing consumer products manufacturer is seeking a Demand Planner to join its Sales team. The company develops and distributes branded products sold through major retail, e-commerce, and distribution channels across North America. Known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service, the organization operates in a fast-paced environment supporting both everyday consumers and retail partners. Salary/Hourly Rate $75k - $85k Position Overview We're seeking a true end-to-end Demand Planner who has owned the forecasting process, partnered closely with Sales and Operations, and understands the downstream impact of forecasts on inventory, production, and customer service. The Demand Planner will develop, maintain, and continuously improve demand forecasts that align customer sales expectations with operational capabilities. This role serves as a critical link between Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and Product Management to ensure demand forecasts support inventory planning, production schedules, and overall business objectives. The ideal candidate will leverage historical sales data, inventory trends, POS information, promotional activities, seasonality, and product lifecycle changes to develop accurate and actionable forecasts. This position requires strong analytical abilities, excellent communication skills, and a solid understanding of forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain operations. This role follows a hybrid schedule with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home. Responsibilities Of The Demand Planner Develop and maintain customer-, product-, and channel-level demand forecasts using sales history, POS data, customer inventory information, seasonality, promotional plans, and commercial inputs. Partner closely with Sales teams to understand customer commitments, promotional events, inventory trends, business opportunities, and forecast drivers. Support the demand planning process by incorporating customer and sales assumptions into supply, inventory, and manufacturing plans. Analyze manufacturing lead times, production capacity, inventory levels, material availability, service risks, and backorder trends to develop realistic demand plans. Utilize forecasting, inventory planning, ERP, EDI, and reporting systems to identify demand, supply, and inventory exceptions. Lead recurring forecast review meetings with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure forecast alignment and operational readiness. Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual demand projections by customer, product category, and sales channel. Monitor forecast accuracy and forecast bias, investigate variances, identify root causes, and implement continuous process improvements. Support annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes through analysis, reporting, and forecast validation. Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, and Manufacturing on new product launches, promotional activities, product transitions, and discontinuations. Maintain accurate forecast data across all systems and ensure assumptions are clearly documented and communicated. Prepare and distribute demand planning reports highlighting forecast performance, inventory risks, supply constraints, and recommended actions. Perform additional duties as assigned. Required Experience/Skills For The Demand Planner 3-5 years of experience in demand planning. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data and identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Knowledge of demand planning, inventory management, replenishment, manufacturing processes, and supply chain operations. Experience working with ERP systems, forecasting tools, reporting platforms, EDI data, and customer-facing business portals. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Experience analyzing forecast accuracy, demand variances, inventory performance, and service-level metrics. Strong organizational and project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to collaborate effectively across Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and other business functions. Strong business judgment and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion. Experience translating sales plans, customer insights, and market trends into actionable demand forecasts. Preferred Experience/Skills For The Demand Planner Experience supporting a customer-focused, sales-driven business environment. Consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, wholesale distribution, or mass merchant industry experience. Experience with POS reporting, customer inventory analytics, replenishment systems, and EDI transactions. Exposure to Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365), Netstock, Crystal Reports, Retail Link, or similar planning and reporting platforms. Office products, consumer goods, or retail-driven manufacturing experience is a plus. Experience presenting analytical findings and recommendations to business leaders. Education Requirements For The Demand Planner Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Analytics, Finance, or a related field. Benefits Hybrid working schedule: 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home. Flexible work hours to support a healthy work-life balance. Paid holidays. Health, dental, and vision plans. Life insurance, STD, LTD, and AD&D. 401(k) match. Profit sharing. Weekly pay cycle. Collaborative, team-first culture. Professional development.