Job Summary
The Demand Planner is responsible for developing accurate demand forecasts to support business planning and ensure product availability while minimizing costs. This role works closely with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and Operations to align demand and supply, improve forecast accuracy, and enable data-driven decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain demand forecasts using statistical models, historical sales data, market trends, and business insights.
- Lead the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) demand review process.
- Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to incorporate promotions, product launches, and market intelligence into forecasts.
- Monitor forecast accuracy and bias; implement corrective actions to improve performance.
- Identify risks and opportunities in demand planning and recommend strategies to address them.
- Align with Supply Planning and Procurement teams to balance inventory levels, customer service, and cost efficiency.
- Generate reports and dashboards to provide insights to management and cross-functional teams.
- Support business initiatives by providing demand scenarios and analysis for decision-making.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Statistics, or related field.
- Proven experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain management.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail.
- Proficiency in forecasting tools and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Kinaxis, or equivalent).
- Advanced skills in Excel; experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is a plus.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills across functions.
Key Competencies
- Forecasting and analytical expertise
- Collaboration and stakeholder management
- Strategic thinking with operational execution
- Adaptability and continuous improvement mindset
