Demand Planning Manager

About the Role:

We are seeking a Demand Planning professional who will lead and oversee demand planning processes and a team of demand planners to provide a feasibly accurate, unconstrained forecast as a key input for Integrated Business Planning “IBP” and downstream Supply Planning processes at Savencia North America. This key supply chain leadership position ensures the use of historical data, market trends, and cross-functional input to provide transparency and a demand plan that minimizes stockouts, reduces excess inventory. Some travel is required with this role.

A Day in the Life | Responsibilities We Trust You With:

• Forecast Management: Develop maintain, and refine the 12-to-24 month rolling demand plan using statistical methods and market intelligence.
• Collaborate with other members of the supply chain, sales, marketing, and customer support teams to achieve sales and service objectives.
• IBP Leadership: Facilitate and lead monthly consensus review meetings with sales, marketing, finance, and operations to develop the transparent demand plan as a key input to IBP and downstream supply chain processes.
• Team Leadership: Supervise, coach, and mentor subordinate demand planners, handle performance management, and workflow prioritization.
• Cross Functional Alignment: Communicate demand shifts, new product introductions (NPI), and promotional plans proactively with the supply chain planning and finance teams.
• Proactively facilitate and re-engineering of best practices & consensus between functional experts (Demand Planning, Inventory Planning, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, and IT).
• Make recommended adjustments to forecast based on input changes in demand and market trends.
• Demand Planning Systems: Understand & direct SAP APO demand planning software setups regarding demand planning.
• Establish and utilize best methods (statistical models and software tools) in creating forecasts and respective inventory targets.
• KPI Optimization: Monitor forecast accuracy, forecast bias, inventory turns, and service levels to continually improve performance.

What You Must Know | Education & Experience: 

• 4-year college degree or equivalent in materials management/logistics
• Minimum 3 years' experience using SAP APO or equivalent demand planning software
• Background in master scheduling, inventory management, forecasting, procurement and planning
• Knowledge of demand planning process within consumer-packaged goods industry; food manufacturing experience with multiple plants is preferred

What You Need to be Good At | Competencies & Skills:

• Superior problem-solving skills for long-term issue resolution
• Quick decision-making and ability to concentrate
• Solid analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills - verbal and written
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated

Your Working Relationships | Leadership:

• Direct reports include a team of 3 demand planners