Demand Planner, Key Channels

Demand Planner, Key Channels

The Customer Demand Analyst manages and integrates data from Sales, Customer Planning, Marketing, and Supply Chain to develop accurate operational forecasts. This role ensures forecasts align with business direction and market trends, communicates assumptions, and supports Operations, Sales, and Financial Planning.

Role Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain item-level forecasts using statistical models, customer insights, and market intelligence.
• Collaborate with Customer Planning, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain to integrate business trends, promotional plans, new items, and everyday item seasonality into forecasts.
• Prioritize key activities that drive forecast improvement such as alignment on merchandising and innovation.
• Champion the Customer Demand Alignment (CDA) process, facilitating collaboration and consensus across Sales and Integrated Dynamic Planning to ensure alignment of plans (including Turn Replenishment, Merchandising, Reset, and Innovation forecasts).
• Attend applicable customer team meetings with Customer Planning to ensure full visibility to strategy and key planning decisions.
• Ensure forecast accuracy and continuous improvement by monitoring KPIs (e.g., WMAPE, Bias) and leveraging new tools.
• Maintain data integrity in Kinaxis and other relevant systems, ensuring timely publication of forecasts and new item setups.
• Communicate forecast assumptions, changes, and discrepancies to stakeholders, and work with relevant teams to resolve issues.
• Deliver shared customer-focused goals (e.g., Case Fill, Waste, On Shelf Availability, OTIF) and provide analysis to validate alignment with Sales and Customer Planning.
• Support monthly IBM Demand meetings and incorporate feedback to improve processes.
• Lead or participate in special projects, such as seasonal planning, new product launches, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in core planning processes (e.g., KEM meetings, SKU rationalization) as a representative of the Demand Planning team.
• Maintain thorough and explicit record of key planning assumptions by segment, building block and key driver/initiative

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Proficiency with SAP, Kinaxis, PlanEx reporting, and customer-specific systems.
• Strong understanding of business management and supply chain concepts.
• Effective communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to analyze data, implement forecasts, and adapt to change.
• Strong mathematical and problem-solving skills.
• Openness to technology advancements and process improvements.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Education – Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Mathematics, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
• Experience – Up to 4+ years of relevant business experience.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.