Lead Global Demand Planner

Job Description

Job Description

The Lead Global Demand Planner serves as the strategic leader of L.A.B. Golf’s sales demand planning function, owning forecast strategy, retailer collaboration, and inventory alignment across wholesale channels. This role is responsible for establishing forecasting methodologies, collaborating with the sales team and customers to ensure demand signals translate into actionable production and inventory plans. This position operates with a high level of autonomy and strategic influence, balancing retailer demand, business objectives, and operational constraints. The Lead Global Demand Planner drives forecast accuracy, and partners cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain to align commercial demand with operational execution. The role combines strategic planning and hands-on forecasting oversight to ensure L.A.B. Golf maintains optimal inventory levels, supports growth initiatives, and responds effectively to dynamic market conditions.

Responsibilities and Duties Forecast Strategy and Ownership

• Standardize planning processes, tools, and best practices across the team
• Provide escalation support for complex forecasting and inventory challenges
• Own the development of monthly, seasonal, and annual demand forecasts across wholesale channels
• Collaborate with Finance and Chief Revenue Officer to create 18 month Financial forecasts
• Establish forecasting methodologies, assumptions, and planning cadences
• Oversee demand inputs from Sales, Marketing, Product, and retailer partners
• Ensure forecasts align with financial targets, product lifecycle strategy, and inventory goals
• Review forecast accuracy and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead forecast consolidation across channels and planners

Retailer Collaboration and Commercial Planning

• Serve as senior planning partner for key wholesale retailers and strategic accounts
• Provide weekly updates to the Executive team on top retailer sales and inventory positions
• retailer forecasts with promotional calendars, product launches, and seasonal demand
• Support major account planning, including inventory targets and growth initiatives
• Provide leadershiplevel insights on retailer demand trends and opportunities

Demand Analysis and Business Strategy

• Analyze historical sales, market trends, and demand signals to identify risks and opportunities
• Provide strategic recommendations for assortment, launches, and lifecycle management
• Evaluate constrained inventory scenarios and guide prioritization decisions
• Translate demand insights into actionable business decisions

Inventory Planning and Risk Mitigation

• Oversee inventory health across wholesale channels and product categories
• Partner with Supply Chain and Fulfillment to balance supply and demand
• Recommend allocation strategies during constrained inventory scenarios
• Proactively identify stockout and excess inventory risks
• Guide team on inventory prioritization decisions

Standard Operating Procedure and Cross-Functional Alignment

• Lead demand planning inputs into the Sales and Operations Planning process
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Product, Finance, and Supply Chain leadership
• Communicate forecast changes, risks, and opportunities to stakeholders
• Align demand plans with production capacity and supply strategy
• Support executivelevel planning and decisionmaking
Reporting and Forecast Governance
• Oversee weekly and monthly demand planning reporting
• Monitor forecast accuracy, bias, and planning KPIs
• Establish reporting standards and planning dashboards
• Present demand insights to leadership and crossfunctional teams
• Ensure data integrity and planning governance across systems

Continuous Improvement and Planning Operations

• Lead demand planning process improvements and standardization
• Evaluate and implement planning tools and forecasting enhancements
• Improve data integration across ERP, retail data, and reporting systems
• Develop scalable planning frameworks to support business growth
• Establish best practices for forecasting, reporting, and inventory planning
General Duties
• Perform additional tasks as assigned to support L.A.B. Golf’s planning strategy and overall business objectives

Qualifications, Skills and Attributes

Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Analytics, or related field preferred
• Equivalent professional experience in demand planning or sales planning considered in lieu of degree
Experience
• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, retail planning, sales planning, or supply chain analytics
• Experience owning forecast strategy and planning processes
• Experience working with wholesale retail partners preferred
• Experience in consumer goods, sporting goods, or manufacturing environments preferred
• Experience supporting standard operating procedure or integrated business planning processes
• Demonstrated experience managing constrained inventory environments
Technical Skills
• Advanced Excel proficiency (XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, pivot tables, forecasting models)
• Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite preferred) and planning tools
• Strong analytical and forecasting model development capabilities
• Experience building dashboards and forecast accuracy reporting
• Ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable insights
Desired Attributes
• Ability to lead through influence across crossfunctional teams
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen
• High level of ownership and accountability
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills
• Ability to balance strategic planning with handson execution
• Proactive, solutionsoriented leadership style
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fastpaced environment
Physical and Cognitive Requirements

As part of our commitment to providing equal opportunities, we welcome and encourage individuals of all abilities to apply. The following outlines the core physical and cognitive functions typically required to perform this role. Reasonable accommodation(s) will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Physical Requirements
• Ability to sit at a computer workstation for extended periods while reviewing forecasts, analyzing data, and preparing reports
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment with accuracy and efficiency
• Adequate vision to read and interpret spreadsheets, dashboards, reports, and internal documentation in digital and printed formats
• Ability to occasionally lift and move files, binders, or office supplies weighing up to 20 pounds
• Capability to move between office spaces, meeting rooms, and crossfunctional team areas as needed
• Tolerance for prolonged screen time while maintaining focus, precision, and attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fastpaced, collaborative environment balancing analytical work, meetings, and team leadership responsibilities
Cognitive Requirements
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple forecasting initiatives, team responsibilities, and business deadlines simultaneously
• Strong problemsolving skills to address demand variability, inventory constraints, and crossfunctional planning challenges
• Capacity to analyze historical sales data, demand trends, and business inputs to inform strategic decisions
• Attention to detail to ensure forecast accuracy, inventory alignment, and reporting integrity across channels
• Critical thinking to evaluate market trends, product performance, and demand signals
• Adaptability to respond quickly to changes in demand patterns, supply constraints, or business priorities
• Effective decisionmaking and sound judgment when recommending inventory strategies or prioritization
• Ability to synthesize information from Sales, Marketing, Product, Finance, and Supply Chain partners
• Capability to lead planning discussions, influence stakeholders, and guide team decisionmaking
• Ability to coach and mentor team members while maintaining individual planning responsibilities