Demand Planning Manager

Job Description

Position Summary

The primary focus of this position is to enthusiastically lead a high-performance team responsible for developing the Demand Plan as an integral part of the Sales and Operations Planning process.  This team generates monthly forecasts over the multi-year planning horizon for assigned SKUs & brands by gathering inputs from many sources including, but not limited to: Data Science, Sales, Revenue Growth Management, and Brand Marketing business partners.  These Demand Plans are critical in that they drive financial planning, supply planning processes, procurement, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Demand Planning process within the monthly S&OP Process and weekly Demand Sensing process in coordination with the objectives set by Sr Demand Planning Manager.

• Lead a team of self-starting Demand Planners and an Analyst who are adaptable, good at navigating change and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Leverage advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to generate SKU-level 24 month forecasts for a regional business unit, utilizing statistical modeling, Driver-based forecasting and historical data.
• Gather, collect and synthesize multiple quantifiable insights from business partners, to incorporate into and enrich the baseline demand forecast.
• Resolve with business partners discrepancies between commercial plans, sale forecasts and system-generated & tuned demand forecasts resulting in the consensus demand plan.
• Analyze performance and trends, explain business assumptions behind the forecast, identifies opportunities and risks, and proactively communicate to cross-functional teams.
• Measure and report forecast error & bias; analyze cause and effect; and recommend corrective action utilizing learnings to continuously improve results.
• Collaborate with Distributor Management function to establish process for integrating insights from distributor partners into depletions forecast and into billings projections.
• Drive continuous improvement of system driven business processes and ensure transparency in E2E demand signal.

Collaboration, Communication and Decision Making:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate well across all levels of the organization.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to work with both internal and external customers.
• Foster strong relationships with data science, marketing and sales teams to influence and set up processes to integrate relevant data and insights into forecast as commercial enhancements.
• Ability to own, explain, present and drive consensus of overall forecast within monthly Demand Review meetings.
• Ensure structure of S&OP cycle meetings through setting agendas, facilitating and participating in cross-functional discussions, and driving prompt decision-making with stakeholders in supporting the overall S&OP Demand Planning process
• Demonstrates effective communication that is genuine, authentic, concise, and persuasive in both written and oral communication.

Mindsets & Behaviors:

• Challenge the status quo to improve S&OP Demand Planning processes and tools using Agile frameworks – loves and embraces change.
• Stay updated and apply relevant industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in Demand Planning, Integrated Business Planning and Supply Chain Management.
• Believes in a non-hierarchical culture of collaboration, transparency, safety, and trust.
• Not afraid to “roll up the sleeves” and seeks to go outside comfort zone to learn – pushes teams to do the same.
• Empowers others to fail, learn, and grow.
• Comfortable and experience bringing structure to ambiguity.
• Possesses a spirit of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation.
• Integrity: Supporting teams in tough times, taking responsibility for issues under their purview and helping others without expecting something in return. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university majoring in Supply chain, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, or a business-related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in a Supply Chain role, preferably 2-4 years in demand planning role.
• Experience with Integrated Business Processes, particularly for Demand Planning.
• 1 to 3 years supervisory/management experience

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS certification desirable or willingness to pursue certification.
• Experience in supply chain role in CPG industry or beverage manufacturer.
• APICS and/or IBF Certifi