Demand Planner

Job Title: Demand Planner Department: Planning and Customer Service

Reports To (Title): IBP and Customer Relations

Conventional Schedule

JOB PURPOSE

The Demand Planner is responsible for leading the CPUS demand planning process and developing a robust, consensus-based

demand plan that serves as the primary input for Supply Planning, Production Planning, Inventory Management, and the

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process. The role collaborates closely with Sales, Customer Service, Finance, Marketing,

Supply Planning, and Business Units to align commercial expectations with operational capabilities and financial objectives.

The Demand Planner facilitates demand reviews, drives forecast accuracy improvements, identifies risks and opportunities,

and ensures alignment between customer demand, capacity constraints, and business priorities. This position plays a critical

role in supporting strategic decision-making by translating market intelligence, customer insights, and statistical forecasting

into actionable demand plans that optimize service, inventory, and overall supply chain performance.

DUTIES AND TASKS

(To be performed in full alignment with CANPACK Core Values: Respect, Safety, Teamwork, Integrity, Quality, and Innovation)

1. Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve CPUS demand forecasts across customers, product categories, and markets.

• Lead the monthly Demand Review process as part of the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) / S&OP cycle.

• Consolidate commercial inputs, market intelligence, customer insights, promotional plans, innovation activities, and historical

demand patterns into a consensus forecast.

• Monitor forecast performance through key metrics including MAPE, Bias, Attainment, and Forecast Value Add (FVA).

• Analyze deviations from plan and implement corrective actions to improve forecasting performance.

2. Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Operations to ensure alignment between demand,

supply, and financial plans.

• Facilitate discussions regarding demand assumptions, risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans.

• Support executive decision-making by providing data-driven scenario analyses and recommendations.

• Ensure timely communication of significant demand changes impacting capacity, inventory, and customer service.

3. S&OP / IBP Process Management

• Coordinate CPUS demand planning activities within the S&OP and IBP frameworks.

• Prepare and present demand planning results, risks, opportunities, assumptions, and recommended actions during Demand

Review and Supply Review meetings.

• Drive adherence to planning calendar, governance standards, and demand planning processes.

• Support continuous enhancement of planning maturity, analytics, and decision-making capabilities.

4. Analytics & Business Insights

• Analyze large volumes of data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and demand drivers.

• Develop predictive and diagnostic analyses to improve forecast quality and business understanding.

• Evaluate customer demand behavior, inventory implications, and service-level impacts.

• Provide meaningful business insights and recommendations to support strategic and operational objectives.

5. Systems & Process Improvement

• Act as a key user and subject matter expert for SAP IBP, reporting tools, and planning systems.

• Support implementation and enhancement of planning tools, dashboards, and reporting capabilities.

• Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, and improve demand planning processes.

• Participate in cross-functional projects supporting supply chain transformation and digitalization initiatives.

6. Risk & Opportunity Management

• Identify and quantify forecast risks and opportunities.

• Develop mitigation plans with commercial and supply chain stakeholders.

• Support scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to enable proactive decision-making.

• Incorporate supply constraints and business priorities into the final consensus demand plan.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Indicate the minimum recruitment specification, the ideal person specification, the preferred minimum qualifications and skills required for full satisfactory job

performance and to meet expectations

Qualifications and Education

Include any specialized education and qualifications needed to be able to do

the job. Work Experience Clarify the minimum years of total work experience and other relevant work experience required to be able to perform the job

• Bachelor's degree of Supply Chain, Industrial

Engineering, Business Administration or equivalent

undergraduate degree, with related work experience • Years of experience: From 2-5 Years • Management experience: Not applicable

Skills

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of commercial, operational, and

supply chain business processes.

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate data

into actionable recommendations.

• Ability to manage large datasets and perform diagnostic,

predictive, and prescriptive analytics.

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills

across all organizational levels.

• Strong presentation, communication, and facilitation skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional and matrix

organization.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively

in a fast-paced environment.

• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on

delivering measurable business value.

• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.

• Ability to drive change and challenge existing assumptions

constructively.

• Deep knowledge of Demand Planning, S&OP, and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes. • Understanding of Supply Planning, Inventory Management, Capacity Planning, and Customer Service processes. • Knowledge of Supply Chain Performance Metrics including MAPE, Attainment, Bias, Forecast Value Add (FVA), Service Levels, Inventory Turns, and OTIF. • Understanding of financial planning and its integration with operational planning processes. • Knowledge of forecasting methodologies, statistical models, and demand sensing techniques. • Experience with SAP IBP Demand, SAP IBP S&OP, • Advanced Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office applications. • Understanding of product lifecycle management, innovation planning, and portfolio management processes. • Knowledge of supply chain optimization and inventory management concepts. • Understanding of Continuous Improvement methodologies and business process management principles.

Training

(Optional)

Include any specific training (both internal and external) needed to do the job. Language Include the level of required language needed to do the job.

• English • C2- Proficient

WORK INDEPENDENCE / SUPERVISION LEVEL

Limited Supervision

The Demand Planner operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to independently manage CPUS demand planning

activities, forecast development, stakeholder alignment, and execution of the monthly S&OP process. The role receives broad

strategic direction from the IBP and Customer Relations Manager while independently determining priorities, methodologies,

analyses, and recommendations required to achieve business objectives.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Include the communications that are within the position's holder responsibilities. (e.g., Internally can communicate with all departments, externally can

communicate with suppliers' service providers, customers, governmental entities)

The Demand Planner collaborates extensively across multiple functions and organizational levels throughout CPUS to ensure

alignment between commercial demand, operational capabilities, and business objectives.

Internal Relationships.

• Sales Teams and Commercial Directors to gather market intelligence, customer forecasts, promotional plans, and growth

opportunities.

• Customer Service Teams to align customer requirements, demand changes, service expectations, and exception management.

• Supply Planning and Master Planning Teams to balance demand plans against production capacity, inventory levels, and

supply constraints.

• Operations and Manufacturing Teams to understand capacity limitations, operational risks, and production capabilities.

• Finance Teams to ensure alignment between demand forecasts, budget targets, financial plans, and business performance

expectations.

• Marketing and Product Management Teams regarding new product launches, portfolio changes, promotional activities, and

innovation pipelines.

• North American and Global Supply Chain Leadership to support strategic planning, scenario evaluation, and business

decision-making.

• Procurement and Logistics Teams to evaluate supply chain risks and demand impacts on the wider value chain.

• Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, and IT Teams to support planning systems, reporting tools, master data quality, and

continuous improvement initiatives.

External Relationships

• Customers to validate demand assumptions, promotional activities, seasonal plans, market trends, and forecast changes.

• External Supply Chain Partners, where applicable, regarding demand-related initiatives and collaborative planning activities.

• Software and System Providers supporting planning tools, reporting platforms, and process enhancements.

The role requires strong interpersonal, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate

effectively across diverse functions, cultures, and levels of the organization. The Demand Planner is expected to act as a trusted

business partner, facilitating fact-based discussions and driving alignment in support of company objectives.

DECISIONS IMPACTED BY THIS POSITION

The Demand Planner significantly influences business decisions through the development and maintenance of the CPUS

demand plan and associated planning assumptions.

Key decisions impacted include:

• CPUS demand forecast and customer demand assumptions.

• Inventory strategy and inventory target recommendations.

• Production and supply planning priorities based on expected demand.

• Capacity utilization and resource allocation decisions.

• Product launch, innovation, and phase-out planning.

• Identification and mitigation of forecast risks and business opportunities.

• Demand constraint management during supply shortages.

• Service level and customer allocation recommendations.

• S&OP and Executive S&OP decision-making through scenario analysis and recommendations.

• Strategic supply chain initiatives focused on service, cost, inventory optimization, and operational efficiency.

• Planning process improvements, governance standards, and forecasting methodologies.

• Business contingency planning and demand-related risk management activities.

The recommendations and analyses provided by this position directly affect customer service performance, inventory investment,

production efficiency, working capital, and overall business profitability.

ADDITIONAL LOCAL REQUIREMENTS/ITEMS

CPUS Business Requirements

Support demand planning activities across CPUS customer groups and product categories. Understand North American market dynamics, customer buying patterns, seasonality, promotional activities, and macroeconomic trends affecting demand. Incorporate CPUS commercial strategies, market developments, and growth initiatives into demand forecasts. Ensure consistency and standardization of forecasting methodologies while accommodating US business requirements.

Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

Consider US regulatory requirements, trade restrictions, import/export regulations, and other market-specific factors that may impact demand planning assumptions. Support planning activities in compliance with company policies, corporate governance standards, and applicable US regulations. Understand the impact of North American sustainability, packaging, recycling, deposit return systems (DRS), and environmental regulations on customer demand and market behavior where applicable.

CPUS Collaboration Collaborate with CPUS Sales, Customer Service, Supply Planning, Finance, and Operations teams across business units. Facilitate alignment between US market requirements and North American supply chain objectives. Support North American and global S&OP governance standards and planning processes.

North American Leadership

Expectations

Serve as a CPUS subject matter expert for demand planning and forecasting processes. Act as a change agent by promoting data-driven decision-making and cross-functional collaboration. Support coaching, training, and capability development initiatives within the planning community. Contribute to the continuous advancement of North American planning maturity, forecast accuracy, and business performance.

If you are a current CANPACK employee, please apply through your Workday account.

CANPACK Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or not related to job requirements, unless such distinction is required by law.