Demand Planner

Position Summary

The Demand Planner supports the enterprise demand planning process by developing, maintaining, and refining product-level and customer-level demand forecasts. This role works closely with the Demand Planning Manager and collaborates with Sales to ensure accurate and timely demand signals flow into the S&OP process, enabling effective supply planning and inventory management.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain statistical demand forecasts at the product, customer, and regional level using ERP and forecasting tools.
• Collaborate with Sales team members to gather market intelligence, customer insights, and promotional plans that inform and improve forecast accuracy.
• Participate in the monthly S&OP demand review process, preparing forecast inputs, variance analyses, and supporting documentation.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and bias at assigned product/customer levels; identify root causes of forecast error and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain clean and accurate demand data within the ERP system, including item-level planning parameters and historical demand records.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) planning by developing initial demand assumptions in coordination with Sales and the Demand Planning Manager.
• Generate regular demand planning reports and dashboards to communicate forecast status and KPI performance.
• Identify demand trends, seasonality, and anomalies; escalate significant demand shifts to the Demand Planning Manager.
• Coordinate with Supply Planning to communicate demand changes that may impact supply feasibility or inventory levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Competencies

• Analytical Skills: Ability to work with data to develop, analyze, and refine statistical forecasts.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in maintaining demand data, planning parameters, and forecast records.
• Communication Skills: Ability to effectively engage with Sales and cross-functional teams to gather inputs and communicate forecast status.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple product lines, customers, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Adaptability: Comfortable adjusting forecasts and priorities in response to changing market conditions and business needs.
• Continuous Improvement: Willingness to learn and apply new forecasting methods, tools, and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proficiency with ERP systems required; INFOR/SyteLine experience highly preferred.
• Experience using BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) for reporting and analysis preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required, experience with statistical forecasting tools a plus.
• APICS CPIM or IBF CPF certification preferred.
• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced environment.