Demand Planner

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:  The Demand Planner is responsible for providing a timely and accurate demand plan for the organization’s products.  You will be responsible for all demand planning duties including estimating future product demand, analyzing inventory flow, and developing forecast models.  You will create and maintain forecast models using multiple sources to develop the demand plan including a statistical forecast, sales plans, new product introductions/phase-outs, and market intelligence. To succeed in this role, you should be professional, highly analytical, and possess excellent communications skills. The successful candidate should also have an in-depth knowledge of advanced mathematical models and forecasting policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversee demand planning and management processes for new and existing products.
2. Develop and execute product demand plans to meet organizational goals.
3. Provide support in developing seasonal demand forecasts and anticipate customer reactions to the promotions and discounts.
4. Develop demand forecasts based on statistical demand patterns and business trends.
5. Develop quarterly capacity forecasts by product type to support production team’s planning processes.
6. Present recommended buy plans per inventory pacing requirements, safety stock needs, known lead time horizons, economic order quantities and container utilization.
7. Work with customers, sales team and supply chain management to improve forecast accuracy.
8. Maintain demand plan to ensure cost effectiveness and to meet customer demands.
9. Update customers and sales team about product availability.
10. Address demand related queries and issues in a timely manner.
11. Schedule monthly forecast consensus meetings with sales and ops teams as required.
12. Identify opportunities to meet customer demand during constrained supply.
13. Maintain demand planning processes and systems to improve forecasting accuracy.
14. Identify areas of improvements and recommend action plans.

STANDARD JOB FUNCTIONS

• Develop SKU level demand forecasts by major customer or customer type based on multiple time horizons (3,6- and 12-month rolling forecasts)
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
• Gather, analyze, validate data from multiple sources (database queries, POS data, customer forecasts, sales team)
• Reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.
• Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach (S&OP Process) by working with sales, marketing, customer and finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
• Provide input to the supply planning process in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs.
• Closely coordinate and communicate customer action plans with manager and team.
• May be asked to work on/participate in other supply chain related projects and functions as needed.

DESIRED PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

·       Technology oriented. Comfortable and competent with qualitative and quantitative objectives.

·       Organized, thrives in a busy environment, deadline oriented.

·       Hands-on, motivated work ethic. Willing and able to lead, collaborate and personally execute as needed to achieve the necessary results.

·       Independent, good decision maker.

·       Capability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

·       Enjoys learning, flexible and adaptable to change.

·       Positive attitude. Strong cultural fit. 

·       Business-minded and focused team player. Able to see the big picture and to execute detailed tactics. 

·       Able to collaborate with all levels of staff, internally and externally. 

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree: emphasis in Supply Chain or Business preferred.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES:

APICS or other forecasting certification preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

·       5 years of experience in demand planning and forecasting role.

·       2 to 3 years of experience in the consumer products industry preferred.

·       Solid understanding of inventory management practices and procedures.

·       NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics ERP familiarity preferred.

·       Crystal Reports or Microsoft Query preferred.

Takeya USA is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.