Temporary Demand Planning Analyst

The Position: The Temporary Demand Planning Analyst develops timely and reliable product forecasts in an omni channel environment. The person in this role is responsible for the creation, maintenance, and accuracy improvement of product forecast. The individual in this position is accountable for gathering demand intelligence internally and externally and assists in the presentation of this information during S&OP meetings. 

The Benefits:  As a temporary team member, you will be eligible for medical only benefits after three months and the ability to participate in the company's 401(K) program immediately.  You will also receive generous discounts in our retail store.

Reports to: Demand Planning & Analysis Manager

Location:  White River Junction, VT or Remote

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Demand Planning

• Develops and maintains statistical product forecasts by item and location, across all distribution channels and by individual account or varying time periods as required.
• Collects, tabulates, validates and applies all applicable historical demands, promotion events, distribution changes, and impactful pricing events from internal and external data sources including but not limited to: the company data warehouse, AC Nielson, retailer POS data and other sources as applicable.
• Collects and captures information related to product life cycle changes such as historical and future introductions, discontinuations and assortment, in order to generate effective forecasts Understands and maximizes the use of the forecast planning software tools to improve forecast accuracy and efficiency.  
• Uploads Demand Plan to ERP system monthly, and ad-hoc changes providing explanations.   
• Proposes process improvement resolutions and applies conclusions to revised forecasts.
• Reports on KPI’s for demand planning accuracy, lookback analysis and effectiveness.

Data Analysis

• Prepares detailed product analysis of actual demand versus forecasts.  
• Identifies variances, trends and performs root cause analysis.   
• Participates in the presentation of product performance in S&OP meetings
• Supports ad-hoc analysis projects regarding product demand and alternative scenarios 
• Proactively develops and maintains cross-functional relationships with Sales, Marketing and Merchandising to collaborate on new item launches, pipeline orders for new distribution as well discontinuations and cannibalization assumptions
• Collaborates with Supply Planning for management of product lead times, safety stock strategies and distribution center splits in support of required in stock position at all locations.

Minimum job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of relevant demand planning experience in an omni-channel environment.
• Proven effectiveness in critical thinking, data collection, trending, and root cause analysis.
• Experience with demand planning software tools and applications.
• Advanced skills and high level of proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Excel
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

 Success factors/competencies for this role

• Open to change, recommends actions for continuous improvement
• Data curiosity, analytical thinking and forecast modeling experience
• Thinks and acts strategically, understands how role contributes to larger outcome
• Provides exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers
• Sets high standards for oneself, meets deadlines
• Learns from mistakes, receptive to feedback
• Effective communicator, listens and respects others’ points of view
• Participates in team problem solving and decision making
• Maintains a positive attitude
• Community minded – gets involved, volunteers

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical requirements
  1. Ability to sit and work at a computer for a minimum of eight hours daily
• Work environment
  1. Ability to work in an open office environment which can be noisy at times

• Understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility, including mine 
• Responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions, and correcting these conditions immediately 
• Engaged in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation in same

Environment

• Adhere to company-wide green norms, look for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
• Educate oneself on KAF environmental campaigns
• Strive to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce our environmental impact