Demand Planner I

Demand Planner

The role of the demand planner is to develop a holistic demand forecast for assigned markets or product lines, including new products, regular line and phase out. This role will drive the creation and management of the true customer/consumer demand signals by which the organization aligns supply chain and company resources. This is a critical role in the beginning of a S&OP process, as revenue and supply plans leverage this information.

Responsibilities:

• SKU-Level Forecast Creation and Analysis. Assists in developing and reviewing SKU-level forecasts for assigned markets using established predictive analytic techniques. Understand and interprets the potential impact market trends and demand drivers can have on demand and adjust the statistical forecast to reflect those impacts. Updates statistical forecast exceptions by utilizing demand-planning exception reports to identify and fix potential issues. With supervision, interfaces regularly with Regional Marketing and each market's Sales and Marketing groups to collect past/future demand factors (distribution gains/losses, price changes, new/discontinued products and promotion plans, for example). Understands and anticipates changes that may affect the prepared unit forecasts and adjusts/models forecast accordingly. Monitors the timeline of upcoming projects in Agile to track forecasts provided by markets to ensure forecast placement is accurate to drive correct demand signals for the Supply Chain. Responsible for compiling and communicating global forecast numbers for soft commits, firm commits and final orders from regions for each quarterly promotion. Prepares promotional forecast for variance report to share with organization for visibility and action. Elevates to supervisor as needed.
• Operational Forecast Analysis. Leads multi-functional consensus forecast review meetings for each assigned market to discuss their plans for a given forecast horizon, promotional campaign, overall sales trends, and product supply issues as they relate to SKU demand, sales, and Sales Force forecasts. Summarizes and documents outcome of meetings as forecast rationale to market management after supervisor's review and approval. Assists in ensuring the forecast data presented in the Operational Forecast Analysis accurately reflects all approved forecasts and strategic plans. Assists in reviewing ongoing forecast revisions for reasonableness and alerts supervisor of unusual items or discrepancies. Assists in ensuring the approved forecast quantities are appropriately entered into the forecast systems.
• Communication. Develops and maintains a communication channel with assigned markets and serves as the primary contact to subsidiaries for basic forecasting-related questions, may elevate to supervisor when needed. Aware of need for market intelligence and beginning to link conversations with accuracy of data. Accurately communicates forecast range, with consensus demand while highlighting potential upside opportunity and downside risk to the organization. Develop, monitor and reports on changes and forecast accuracy to business unit and supply chain organizations, while driving continuous improvement.
• Metrics. Utilizes established, various reporting tools that accurately track key indices regarding sales, recruiting, forecast accuracy, etc; obtains necessary information from subsidiaries and domestic departments as required, with the goal to improve forecast accuracy. Assists in the identification of real-time trends that result in projected sales-to-forecast variances and communicates the perceived outcome with Inventory Planning. Reviews existing documentation and procedures for improvement and efficiency; and prepares and participates in special projects and tasks assigned.
• System. Under close supervision, initiates and maintains the structure for each assigned market's sales forecast data within the Company's product sales databases once a forecast is approved. Use and maintain current demand-planning systems to create the best forecast possible using established processes. Has basic familiarity with the standard demand planning system features for both regular line and promotional forecasts and can communicate and troubleshoot issues with both markets and the supply chain, with assistance from supervisor when needed.

Skills & Experience:

• Experience: 1-3 years of experience
• Education: Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Supply Chain or Statistics/Finance

Additional Skills & Abilities:

• Must have analytical and mathematical skills to be able to analyze large amounts of data in a timely manner. Proficiency with statistical modeling, or economic and sales forecasting techniques and applications.
• Must possess effective oral and written communication skills in order to interface with other functional areas in the company and international markets.
• Strong PC skills with in-depth knowledge of MS Office tools, specifically MS Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Must be able to think innovatively to help solve routine forecasting-related problems and make suggestions for improvement.
• Experience using Tableau and developing queries preferred, but not required.
• Must have a basic understanding of supply chain processes for domestic and international markets.