Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, the Senior Demand Planner specializes in carrying out research and analysis to predict consumer demand to manage inventory and guide supply chain operations. This role engages in a variety of tasks such as creating and maintaining forecast models for customers, as well as incorporating business intelligence and forecasting information gathered from other areas such as sales, marketing, finance, development, and supply. The Senior Demand Planner leads the discussion each month for meeting customer demand with these counterparts in the organization.
This position must consider data from many sources when arriving at their forecasts. These sources may include past sales data, advertising and marketing budgets and priorities, the actions of distributors and retailers, natural disasters, weather, and sometimes political and social events.
Staying on top of market trends by watching sales data and communicating with sales personnel, customers, supply planners, and operations. Attend many meetings with purchasing, sales, and distribution operations. From the commercial team, you receive information regarding movement in market indicators and future demand. From supply planners, you receive information about demand that impacts production and capacity. Most days involve using demand planning software, databases, and modeling to forecast and plan.
Essential Functions
Collecting data from internal and external sources on factors known to affect demand
Analyzing sales, stock, and other data statistics
Reviewing historical sales trends
Modeling the data to forecast future demand
Obtaining information on occurrences that could impact demand like promotions and production delays
Gathering updates on vendors, distributors, sales, and other stakeholders that can affect demand
Developing demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons
Coordinating cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances
Interacting with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers
Using and maintaining the demand planning software
Providing input to the supply planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs
Refining systems and methods to improve forecasts to better anticipate customer needs
Demand planning experience in seasonal MFG product
Experience in Polymers, Monofilament's and trimmer lines.
Position Specifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Proven experience as a Demand Planner, 5+ years of experience
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and trends
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time-management skills
Experience with forecasting, vendor management and procurement
Understanding of inventory management practices and procedures
MFG Demand Planner experience
Physical Requirements / Work Environment:
Majority sedentary desk work in an office environment
Occasional work in manufacturing / warehouse environment:not uniformly heated / cooled, exposure to dust/ fumes
Required to wear PPE in plant: steel-toed footwear, hearing protection, safety glasses.Other PPE as required for specific tasks.