Demand Planner – ON-SITE

Job Overview

Demand Planner Position SummaryReporting to the Sales & Operations (S&OP) Manager, the Demand Planner is responsible for customer demand planning and customer service, serving as the integration point between the internal operations team and the clients. This role is responsible for all forecasting activities associated with customers and products. The Demand Planner optimizes demand forecasting and inventory management processes to ensure efficient supply chain operations. Collaborating with sales, marketing, finance, and operations, they develop strategies to align with business objectives and analyze market trends to optimize inventory levels. Additionally, they utilize forecasting tools to create reliable forecasts and implement continuous improvements. This position leads the dialogue for their respective customers and products with key counterparts, fostering customer relationship management by building strong connections with key partners.
Essential FunctionsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Other duties may be assigned.
Sales Forecast Management· Create and maintain demand forecasts by collecting accurate customer forecasts and conducting internal forecasting activities. Develop, analyze, and report monthly demand forecasts.· Conduct forecast review and analysis. Engage with customers for monthly forecast discussions and escalate significant variations to the S&OP Manager.· Provide recommendations to external counterparts for resolving forecast related issues, including forecast accuracy (e.g., MOQ, lead time violations), in a timely and effective manner.· Process forecast entries into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, managing forecasts as firm order demand replaces forecasted demand.· Prepare and present demand forecasts, performance metrics, and insights to management and key stakeholders.· Utilize demand planning software and tools to manage forecasting processes, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.Sales Order Management · Process customer orders, including order entry, order confirmation, and shipment tracking in compliance with company policies.· Monitor and analyze sales orders for accuracy against forecasted demand, MOQs, lead times, and pricing. Address discrepancies and escalate non-compliance to the S&OP Manager. · Request internal sales order exceptions in compliance with company policies, including cancellations and any changes in order quantities or delivery timing. · Collaborate with Supply Planning and Operations to measure order delivery risk, proactively communicating order status and product availability to stakeholders.· Conduct open order review calls and update working documents to convey order status to external stakeholders.· Resolve customer concerns promptly, escalating complex issues to the S&OP Manager and relevant team members as needed.· Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients through regular communication and personalized service.· Develop reports to support Customer Business Reviews and manage Customer Scorecards. · Work closely with Warehousing to support customer shipments and conduct billing accurately and efficiently.· Support Finance with Accounts Receivable and reconciliation, as necessary.· Support Sales with the onboarding of new clients.
Inventory Management · Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and analyze inventory levels by customer accounts to identify expired, excess, obsolete, and slow-moving stock.· Provide customers with monthly Inventory Reports and engage with them to monitor and resolve material liabilities. Collaborate with Warehousing and Finance to align on disposals and billing.· Review weekly inventory positions with customer accounts, escalating significant inventory risks for the business to relevant parties.
Master Data Management· Accurately enter and update master data related to output products in the ERP system, ensuring that all product specifications, descriptions, and attributes are complete and current.· Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Production, Quality Assurance, and Sales, to gather necessary information and ensure all relevant output product data is accurately reflected in the master data system.· Regularly review and validate master data for output products to ensure accuracy and consistency, promptly identifying and correcting any discrepancies or errors.· Maintain thorough documentation of master data changes for output products, including the rationale for updates and approval processes, to ensure transparency and traceability. · Identify opportunities for enhancing master data management processes related to output products and propose solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy.
Process Improvement· Collect data from various sources to track Demand Planning KPIs such as forecast accuracy, inventory turnover, service level, and fill rate. Prepare and distribute regular monthly reports on KPIs to stakeholders.· Collect data to track Customer Service KPIs such as response time, resolution rate, and customer satisfaction scores. Aim to meet or exceed customer service standards.· Conduct root cause analysis on variances in KPI performance and develop and implement corrective actions to address root causes and improve performance.· Perform ad hoc analysis and reporting as needed to support business needs.Requirements and Qualifications· Bachelor’s or Graduate’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, or equivalent experience.· Strong mathematical, analytical, and statistical knowledge.· Excellent attention to detail.· Strong interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills· Hands-on attitude, skilled in problem solving and root cause analysis.· Microsoft Office proficient with advanced skills in Excel. Experience with enterprise resource planning systems.· Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. · Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills..