Demand Planner

Job Description

Job Description

S ummary/Objective

The Demand Planner is responsible for the performance of the short term and middle term sales forecasting process of Savencia Cheese USA. This position creates and maintains forecast models incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from sales, marketing, retailers or other sources (i.e.: Circana or other syndicated consumer data). The Demand Planner is the integration point for supply chain into the sales and marketing organization. This position leads the dialogue each week and with key counterparts in Sales and Marketing departments. SAP APO is the piloting tool used as the forecasting tool. Savencia Cheese USA has a portfolio of approximately 400 SKU’s and 350 customers.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Maintain sales history and promotional programs
• Evaluate the effectiveness of promotional activities (sales, marketing, media, etc.) and post-analysis of their actual yield
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models
• Follow up the changes in distribution of an SKU and reflect changes in demand plan
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions
• Interact with sales & marketing, to understand demand forecast drivers, assist them to build forecast assumptions
• Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales and Marketing to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts
• Develop an unconstrained, unbiased forecast of the portfolio at the SKU level
• Identifying gaps between the updated forecast and budget
• Leading the monthly S&OP Demand Meeting
• Pro-actively inform Supply Chain of significant changes in short term horizon
• Provide information about promotional activities of the customers to Customer Service in case of product shortage to help product allocation process
• Measure and improve forecast accuracy

• Drive Discontinuance process
• Coordinate between sales and customer service to manage capacity related allocations

Competencies

• Analytical abilities
• Knowledge of statistical forecast models
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal communication skills

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Statistics, Information Systems, Business, or related field
• 3+ years of experience working in planning or related position
• Excellent communication skills

Preferred Education and Experience

• SAP/APO experience or similar ERP
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• APICS certification
• Knowledge of statistical forecast models
• Supply chain planning experience with perishable goods
• Food and beverage industry experience
• Experience in a planning or forecasting role