Demand Planner & Inventory Analyst

Demand Planning & Inventory Analysis Manager

IndiMade Brands – Independence, OH

The Demand Planning & Inventory Analysis Manager is a key member of the operations management team, reporting directly to the SVP of Supply Chain & Operations. The role will interact with stakeholders in Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, Finance, Sourcing and Operations (warehouse distribution and manufacturing). The person in this position will be the pivotal communication point for connecting product supply to customer demand. Through establishment of effective demand forecasts and inventory targets, maximum customer satisfaction can be achieved. Success in this role will be measured by customer service levels, in-stock rates, and inventory turns.

Specific Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the SVP of Operations & Supply Chain and the corporate support teams, build and implement future demand and inventory plans across the supply chain to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction
• Working in the ERP system (NetSuite), develop and implement demand forecasts and inventory targets including safety stock, to ensure the highest service levels to customers while continuously improving inventory turns.
• Ensure accurate demand forecasting for new product introductions, ongoing products, and phase-outs of discontinued products; apply error analysis techniques to improve forecasting.
• Work closely with merchandising/marketing to forecast promotions and immediate after-effects.
• Implement and maintain an S&OP process across the business
• Establish and implement effective safety stocks, reorder points, and demand forecasts.
• Manage excess & obsolete inventory by working with sales & marketing to sell down or close out E&O products timely and effectively.
• Provide analysis on demand including effect of pricing changes, and in other business areas as assigned.
• Monitor inventory and purchasing requirements to meet customer demand and meet internal stock level targets, communicate requirements and exceptions in a timely manner with Purchasing team, and take action as required.
• Establish key performance metrics and benchmarks; communicate to team and continuously track, measure and improve.
• Partner and communicate with cross functional owners across the business such as Sales, Merchandising/Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain/Purchasing and Operations.

Requirements and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Engineering, Data Science, or related operations degree
• 3-5 years of directly related experience working in demand planning/forecasting, purchasing, and/or data analysis
• Highly analytical: using numbers, data, statistics, and sound analysis techniques to provide actionable information for decision-making
• Positive, optimistic style with a teamwork bias
• Consumer Products company experience preferred
• High-SKU E-commerce company experience preferred
• ERP (NetSuite) implementation or “power user” experience preferred
• Strong level of comfort using software and IT platforms
• Results-oriented and metrics driven
• Strong Microsoft Office proficiency: proficiency in Excel is required
• Tableau experience desired
• Outstanding communication skills; verbal and written
• Demonstrated competence in problem solving using analysis