Responsible for assisting with the developing and executing of effective demand plans. The policies, which govern the defined demand planning process, will guide the day-to-day activities. The role will assure that all demand plans are approved by the Sr. Demand Planner and have KPI’s throughout. In addition to assisting with Demand Planners this role will support MPS function with reporting and analytics.

Responsible for gathering and preparing key demand planning information, promotion/event history and plans, pricing events, using the new Demantra system and other information that builds the case for use of the best forecast (or blended forecast) for driving master planning.

• Create and maintain statistical forecasting models within the Demantra Planning software for a set of assigned products.       The forecast profile reflects the required product/category hierarchy, customer/channel hierarchy, forecasting horizon, frequency of update, and forecasting time buckets—which are specified by the planned SIOP (Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning) process.
• Work closely with Marketing and Sales to review/assess the key inputs of their forecasts and customer forecasts (if available) to supplement or override the Demantra Planning software’s statistical forecast.
• Support SIOP by organizing the statistical forecasts, Marketing and Sales forecasts, customer forecasts and related analysis for presentation, discussion, and resolution—within the defined SIOP meeting structure.
• Assist with the development of key report to support the planning process metrics including forecast error, trend analysis, bias, and other demand behaviors for the statistical, Marketing/Sales, customer, and consensus forecasts.
• Support product portfolio remedial action efforts, which are led by the Category Teams.
• Assist with the development of statistical forecasts that reflect the forecasting policies, historical data, historical and planned events, and model parameters.
• Assist and collaborate with Marketing and Sales regarding their forecasts and customer forecasts (if available) to develop the appropriate consensus forecast. Support the argument for a specific consensus forecast with effective analysis.
• Quantify and report forecast accuracy (error) for statistical, Marketing, Sales, customer, and consensus forecasts.       The accuracy measures will be used to improve demand planning and assist in setting appropriate levels of safety stocks.
• Work with the Demand and Master Planners to define and understand the impact of forecast consumption (variance) within a month.
• Work with the supply chain and technology vendor consultants to leverage the process and applications (JDE and Demand Planning) relating to statistical and collaborative forecasting needs.

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field.
• A minimum of 1-3 years of forecasting/demand planning or sales planning experience.
• Food or relevant process industry experience.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet applications- Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Expertise in ERP applications—preferably JDE.
• Organized and thorough, and pays attention to details.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with management/staff in other functional areas.
• Business, product, and marketing and sales understanding in a food/CPG environment as it relates to the impact on demand and the projection of demand.

RECOMMENDED:

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with a highly-regarded commercially available demand planning application.
• Expertise in MS PowerPoint.
• APICS certification a plus.