Demand Planning Manager

Job Summary:

The Demand Planning Manager is a key member of the Sales Planning & Strategy team and will be responsible for driving Demand Planning function for all categories across multiple customers. This role interacts closely with Sales, Marketing and Production to build a cross-functional demand planning forecast to manage costs across the supply chain. You will be responsible for analyzing Juanita’s Foods product performance at key customers including shipment data, POS, channel inventory, and promotional activity to develop a total demand forecast and contribute to Juanita’s Foods consistently meeting customer fill rates and in-stock target expectations.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Create overall Demand Planning strategy for all customer accounts, set annual objectives, and develop metrics and KPIs to support functional and company goals.
• Deliver an accurate and cross-functionally aligned 15-month rolling demand plan.
• Monitor the constant and accurate flow of information from the demand planning output to the supply planning team in a timely manner.
• Utilize point of sale data, customer inventory, promotional calendar, and strong analytics to develop item level forecasting and replenishment plans.
• Lead mini/pre-S&OP meetings for strategic channels and product types to align with key stakeholders on year to go forecast expectations.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and finance to understand marketing programs, new product introductions, pricing changes, promotions, and events to meet customer demand
• Lead monthly consensus process based on information gained to develop a forecast to meet supply chain service, inventory goals, and financial forecasts.
• Optimize inventory levels and tracking to meet customer, operational, product and financial/accounting needs.
• Perform ad-hoc analysis, including developing forecasts for new product launches and managing inventory for product transitions.
• Problem solve and escalate supply and forecast issues.
• Partner with supply planning to understand supply chain implications of forecast changes and support improved service to our customers
• Track weekly and monthly forecast error to identify contributing factors and adjust the necessary item and/or inventory levels
• Lead special projects for continuous improvement on behalf of Demand Planning organization and within our planning tools. Drive IT improvements needed automation for the Demand Planning team.

Required/Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• 7+ years’ experience in demand planning, operations/supply chain, or a related field
• Strong Background in MRP/Planning Systems
• Forecasting or manufacturing systems experience preferred
• Advanced Planning Systems Experience
• Strong quantitative background (corporate supply chain planning, consulting, finance, etc.)
• Comfort working with ambiguity
• Strong proficiency in analytics tools including Microsoft Excel and SQL.
• Advanced analytical skills, ability to dissect large data sets (Data Management)
• Exceptional communications skills; able to communicate clearly, concisely, and confidently to employees at all levels of the organization.
• Highly analytical and strategic with unparalleled problem-solving skills; can connect the dots with ease.
• Self-starter who loves collaboration; comfortable working independently as well as influencing cross-functional teams.
• Advanced Excel modeling skills (Macros, v-lookup, pivot tables, conditional formulas, etc.)

Location & Physical Requirements:

• Hybrid
• Prolonged periods of walking, standing, and sitting at desk working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 lbs. at a time.