Demand Planner

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Purpose of Job:

The Demand Planner is responsible for all forecasting and S&OP activities for their assigned portion of the business.  Activities that are key to this role are statistical forecasting, hosting S&OP meetings that engage cross-functional partners, and providing thorough purchase plans to suppliers to ensure they’re ready to support our inventory needs. These activities require the successful individual to be analytical along with being influential and supportive of cross-functional partners. This position reports to the Demand Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Work cross functionally and foster new and existing business relationships and ensure we have the latest market intelligence to build into demand plan.
• Develop a monthly Supply Plan based on our projected purchases to drive availability of raw materials.
• Factor inventory plan into supply plan on heavily seasonal and promoted items and ensure distributor inventory settings are updated accordingly.
• Work closely with Procurement and directly with our major suppliers to ensure they can meet our purchase plans without shortage.
• Partners with Finance, Sales, Supply & Ops, and Commercialization to ensure demand consensus process delivers an agreed upon, workable volume forecast (mid and long term).
• Ensure throughout S&OP process, that gaps and overlaps are addressed, scenarios are completed, data is available and accurate, and issues appropriately escalated to meet business objectives.
• Create the S&OP minutes, communicate key conclusion to stakeholders and perform follow up of the actions.
• Represent the Planning function in various New Product Development projects and ensure smooth transition of new products from product management to distribution.
• Create forecasts:
  • Execute statistical modeling
  • Review resulting statistical forecast model
  • Summarize/aggregate statistical forecasts
  • Gather, analyze and validate NPI, EOL, Sell-through, Promotions, Weather, and VIO data and add to statistical forecast while maintaining visibility

• Measure, diagnose and mitigate bias in the forecast.
• Analyze demand requirement and work with multiple stakeholders to achieve forecast accuracy and improvements.
• Analyze supply and demand imbalances and facilitate resolution throughout the supply chain.
• Assist in quantifying and defining scope for capacity, resource, logistics, and supply chain planning.
• Act as super user for planning tools.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years working experience in a similar role.
• BA/BS degree in a business, logistics, technical discipline or equivalent.
• APICS certification desired.
• Solid experience in Demand and Supply Planning, S&OP facilitation and S&OP implementation.
• Strong quantitative skills and ability to analyze Supply Chain Management (SCM) problems to develop and implement solutions.
• Passion to drive continuous improvement by driving problems to root cause-level.
• Familiarity with the tools, methodologies, and disciplines of a lean six sigma environment.
• Green Belt Certification preferred.
• Consumer packaged goods business knowledge in a high volume, fast paced, customer-focused supply chain.
• Experience with the how forecast drives Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Finite Scheduling and Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP).
• Strong internal-customer orientation and the ability to diagnose and resolve complex SCM problems with the due sense of urgency.
• Strong knowledge of forecasting techniques (Seasonal, Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing and Trending) and data sources, drivers influencing demand, input data preparation and collection, outlier identification, and focus forecasting. 
• Experience with o9, Manugistics, or similar supply chain planning tool preferred.

Note: We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Interstate Batteries provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Interstate Batteries complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Interstate Batteries expressly prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical), marital status, military status, veteran status, citizenship or any other characteristic protected under applicable local, state or federal law.