Customer Demand Specialist - Demand Planner

Summary :

The Customer Demand Specialist is responsible for developing item level demand forecast for 1,000 2,000 SKU’s that will be used to plan material and finished goods purchases, production, inventory, capacity and financial projections.

Responsible for planning key categories, including large strategic customers with critical business importance. The company competes in a very dynamic environment with a product offering of approximately 6,000 SKUs.

These products are subject to customer specific requirements and very short life cycles. The Customer Demand Specialist is challenged to continuously improve the demand planning process and results to enable the company to achieve its customer service commitments, sales targets, inventory objectives, and asset utilization.

The ability to collaborate with customers, Sales, Operations, and Finance while interpreting information from many sources (POS, order history, customer forecasts etc.) is essential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Responsible for development of a monthly, item level forecast for turn and promotional volume for assigned categories with a 24 month planning horizon
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, deploy statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results
• Partner with Sales Account Managers to develop promotional forecasts and forecast product life-cycles with cross functional project teams
• Lead the Demand Planning input in SIOP process, serving as the forecasting subject matter expert on the team
• Provide ad hoc analysis for Supply Chain, Finance, Sales and Operations leadership
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with cross functional stakeholders and customers where applicable
• Drive improved forecast value added (FVA), forecast accuracy and reduced forecast bias through root cause error analysis, collaboration, and process improvements
• Perform initial set up of Demand Planning related fields for new materials in SAP
• Supervisory Responsibilities : None
• Education Requirements :
• BA / BS Degree in Business, Statistics, Math, or Related Field required (MS / MBA is a plus)
• Experience Requirements :
• 3+ years’ experience developing customer / item level forecasts in a manufacturing environment, preferably in FMCG
• Experience with using ERP systems (preferably SAP
• Experience with advanced demand planning tools and statistical modeling
• Competencies :
• Proven analytical skills
• Must be an advanced excel user (pivot tables, lookups, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability as participative team member in cross functional environment
• Able to identify and analyze opportunities in order to develop and implement solutions
• APICS / IBF or other professional certification in Supply Chain concepts is preferred
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations :

Travel :

Approx. 5% travel is required

Work Environment :

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand;

walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.