Demand Planner

SDC TECHNOLOGIES INC•Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

11d•$87,000 - $107,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Demand Planner researches, analyzes, and maintains analytics reports and databases to create reliable inventory forecasts and optimize revenue. The role manages production and dispensing schedules to maintain core-product inventory and meet expected customer ship dates. It collaborates with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Production, and Supply Chain teams to manage capacity, determine safety-stock and raw-material requirements, and prevent inventory surpluses and shortages. The Demand Planner develops demand-planning strategies, improves forecast accuracy and analysis, and establishes, maintains, and documents demand-planning processes, techniques, and systems. The role monitors production flow, communicates delays to stakeholders, and manages competing priorities to help meet production targets. This position is based at SDC US in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and is full-time. The stated salary range is $87,000 to $107,000. A bachelor's degree is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Research, Business, Statistics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
Five or more years of dedicated demand planning, forecasting, supply chain analysis, or closely related production-planning experience.
Proficiency in ERP or MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Understanding of chemical batch-production lead times, industry market trends and conditions, shelf-life management, product quality and safety standards, and applicable regulatory requirements, including California EPA/DTSC or OSHA guidelines affecting chemical handling and storage.
Strong cross-functional communication, negotiation, and analytical problem-solving skills, including the ability to align conflicting sales and production goals.
Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, with the capacity to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Experience using artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools for demand forecasting, data analysis, scenario modeling, process automation, and business decision-making; ability to critically evaluate outputs and apply appropriate data-privacy and governance practices.

Nice To Haves

Experience in chemical or process manufacturing or industrial distribution is preferred.
Familiarity with specialized demand-planning or S&OP software.
APICS certification or equivalent is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Analyze and determine production requirements based on sales forecasts and customer orders.
Build and maintain rolling statistical forecast models using historical sales data, market trends, and customer forecasts.
Lead or participate in regular sales and operations planning meetings with commercial and operations teams to review forecast accuracy, bias, and variances.
Optimize inventory parameters, including safety stock, reorder points, and lead times, considering batch production cycles, shelf-life constraints, and hazardous-material storage limits.
Collaborate with procurement and supply chain managers to translate finished-goods forecasts into raw-material requirements.
Partner with product development and commercial teams to forecast new-product rollouts and regulatory-driven phase-outs.
Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, and generate regular analytical reports for executive leadership.
Coordinate and adjust production schedules to meet product delivery deadlines.
Identify and promptly resolve production, inventory, quality, delay, and operational issues; escalate material shortages or bottlenecks to supply chain as needed.
Collaborate with production and warehouse staff to ensure smooth operations.
Maintain accurate production records and prepare reports on production status, volume, product mix, quality, findings, and performance.
Review and suggest improvements to production processes and systems.