Demand Planner

CANPACK Group•Olyphant, PA

15h

About The Position

The Demand Planner leads the CPUS demand planning process and develops a robust, consensus-based demand plan used as the primary input for supply planning, production planning, inventory management, and Integrated Business Planning (IBP). The role collaborates with Sales, Customer Service, Finance, Marketing, Supply Planning, Operations, and business units to align commercial expectations with operational capabilities and financial objectives. It facilitates demand reviews, improves forecast accuracy, identifies risks and opportunities, and aligns customer demand with capacity constraints and business priorities. The position supports strategic decisions by translating market intelligence, customer insights, and statistical forecasting into actionable demand plans that optimize service, inventory, and supply chain performance. The Demand Planner independently manages CPUS demand planning activities, forecast development, stakeholder alignment, and execution of the monthly S&OP process, with broad strategic direction from the IBP and Customer Relations Manager. It acts as a subject matter expert for demand planning and forecasting, supports planning-system and process improvements, and contributes to North American planning maturity and business performance. The role works across internal functions and, as applicable, with customers, external supply chain partners, and software and system providers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or an equivalent undergraduate degree, with related work experience.
2–5 years of work experience.
Strong understanding of commercial, operational, and supply chain business processes.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to manage large datasets and perform diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.
Strong business acumen and ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across organizational levels.
Strong presentation, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, matrix organization.
Strong project management, organizational, interpersonal, and collaboration skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Continuous-improvement mindset focused on measurable business value; ability to drive change and constructively challenge assumptions.
Deep knowledge of Demand Planning, S&OP, and IBP processes.
Understanding of Supply Planning, Inventory Management, Capacity Planning, and Customer Service processes.
Knowledge of supply chain performance metrics, including MAPE, Attainment, Bias, FVA, service levels, inventory turns, and OTIF.
Understanding of financial planning and its integration with operational planning.
Knowledge of forecasting methodologies, statistical models, and demand sensing techniques.
Experience with SAP IBP Demand and SAP IBP S&OP.
Advanced Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office applications.
Understanding of product lifecycle management, innovation planning, and portfolio management processes.
Knowledge of supply chain optimization, inventory management, continuous-improvement methodologies, and business process management principles.
English proficiency at C2 (Proficient) level.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and continuously improve CPUS demand forecasts across customers, product categories, and markets.
Lead the monthly Demand Review process as part of the IBP/S&OP cycle.
Consolidate commercial inputs, market intelligence, customer insights, promotional plans, innovation activities, and historical demand patterns into a consensus forecast.
Monitor forecast performance using MAPE, Bias, Attainment, and Forecast Value Add (FVA); analyze deviations and implement corrective actions.
Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Operations to align demand, supply, and financial plans.
Facilitate discussions about demand assumptions, risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans, and communicate significant demand changes affecting capacity, inventory, and customer service.
Provide data-driven scenario analyses and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
Coordinate CPUS demand planning activities within S&OP and IBP frameworks; prepare and present results, risks, opportunities, assumptions, and recommended actions for Demand Review and Supply Review meetings.
Drive adherence to planning calendars, governance standards, and demand planning processes, and support continuous improvement of planning maturity and decision-making capabilities.
Analyze data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and demand drivers; develop predictive and diagnostic analyses and provide business insights and recommendations.
Evaluate customer demand behavior, inventory implications, and service-level impacts.
Act as a key user and subject matter expert for SAP IBP, reporting tools, and planning systems; support planning-tool, dashboard, and reporting enhancements.
Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, and improve demand planning processes; participate in supply chain transformation and digitalization projects.
Identify and quantify forecast risks and opportunities, develop mitigation plans with commercial and supply chain stakeholders, and support scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
Incorporate supply constraints and business priorities into the final consensus demand plan.
Support demand planning across CPUS customer groups and product categories, incorporating North American market dynamics, customer buying patterns, seasonality, promotions, macroeconomic trends, commercial strategies, market developments, and growth initiatives.
Support planning in line with company policies, governance standards, applicable US regulations, and relevant market factors, including trade restrictions and import/export requirements.
Consider the effects of sustainability, packaging, recycling, deposit return systems, and environmental regulations on customer demand and market behavior where applicable.
Facilitate alignment between US market requirements and North American supply chain objectives, supporting North American and global S&OP governance.
Promote data-driven decision-making and cross-functional collaboration; support coaching, training, and capability development within the planning community.