Manager, Demand Planning

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Acting Director, Demand Planning, the Demand Planning Manager is responsible for all forecasting activities associated with customers and products for the Import Grocery division. The Demand Planner creates and maintains forecast models for their customers, incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from sales, supplier/partner, marketing, finance, retailer replenishment analysts, and other sources. The Demand Planning Manager is the integration point into the sales and commercial organization. Forecast modeling is the primary responsibility of this position. This position leads the S&OP dialogue each month with key counterparts within the organization.

Key Accountabilities:

• Develop and maintain accurate short-term and long-term demand forecasts using statistical models, historical data, and market insights;
• Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to incorporate promotional activities, new product launches, and customer-specific events into demand forecasts;
• Lead the monthly S&OP process to drive alignment between demand forecasts, supply planning, and business objectives;
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings to review forecast assumptions, address discrepancies, and ensure collaboration between departments;
• Monitor and improve S&OP effectiveness through performance metrics and continuous process enhancements;
• Act as the liaison between supply chain, finance, and commercial teams to ensure forecast alignment with company goals;
• Work closely with supply planning and operations teams to ensure production schedules and inventory strategies support demand requirements;
• Analyze demand patterns and trends to identify opportunities and risks;
• Provide regular reporting on key demand metrics such as forecast accuracy, bias, and fill rates;
• Continuously improve demand planning processes and tools to enhance forecast accuracy and responsiveness to market changes;
• Identify inefficiencies in inventory management and collaborate on solutions to improve supply chain performance.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting;
• Proven track record of managing and improving forecasting processes;
• Experience with demand planning software and advanced Excel skills;
• BA/BS college degree or its equivalent;
• Experience with Power BI and/or Power Query is a plus (not a requirement).

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