Demand Planner

Job Responsibilities

Summary of the Position: 

 This Demand Planning position is responsible for all forecasting activities associated with customers and products. The Demand Planner creates and maintains forecast models for their customers, incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from sales and customers.

The Demand Planner is the integration point between sales and operations. Basic forecast modeling and demand/supply balance is the responsibility of this position. The Demand Planner manages and loads the composite forecasting into HPG SAP.  This position leads the dialogue each week for their respective customers and products with key counterparts in Sales and Operations.

Basic Functions:

• Develop demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of a demand planning function.
• Gather, analyze and validate customer-provided forecasts.
• Review historical sales trends, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales assumptions.
• Heavy interaction with sales and customers to understand demand forecast drivers.
• Upload demand forecasts into SAP to drive procurement of raw materials and manufacturing scheduling.
• Achieve internal consensus with sales, operations and supply chain through leading the SIOP process. 
• Facilitate and manage demand planning / customer meetings.

Key Results:

• A customer demand forecast which incorporates current and accurate market information that allows the company to correctly predict customer demand and provide its supply chain with the appropriate information to plan how to meet that customer demand.
• Refined systems and methods to continually improve forecasts so that the company can better anticipate customer needs.
• Execute with excellence in the area of customer replenishment and feedback to Operations and Supply Chain groups the opportunities and risks regarding customer replenishment performance metrics.

Job Requirements

Education and/or Experience:                                           

Required Education: 2-year associates degree with a minimum three years related experience, or five years related experience in manufacturing planning

Attributes / Skills Required:

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) experience related to demand planning;
• Demonstrated proficiency in forecasting and forecasting methods with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts;
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Office Excel
• This position requires strong analytical, organizational, decision making and presentation skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills are essential to effectively interact with all teams, areas and levels of business affecting the forecast process

Preferred –

• BA/BS degree or its equivalent
• APICS or other forecasting Certification
• SAP ERP System