Demand Planner

Zwiesel Fortessa Americas LLC • Ashburn, VA

6d • $60,000 - $75,000

About The Position

The Demand Planner is responsible for executing global supply planning activities within the company’s open-to-buy financial parameters. This role manages supply plans, production schedules, inventory levels, order cycles, and supplier lead times to support demand forecasts, product launches, leadership objectives, and reliable customer fulfillment. The Planner works closely with Product, Sales, Finance, and Operations to understand future volume requirements and production constraints, and to time and release replenishment orders appropriately.

The position serves as the primary operational contact for overseas manufacturers and collaborates with suppliers and internal teams to meet quality, delivery, and service standards. It monitors supply metrics and risks, resolves conflicts between demand and supply capabilities, and escalates issues with actionable recommendations. The Planner also analyzes supply and forecast data, maintains accurate records and systems data, presents KPIs and insights to leadership, and implements process improvements to enhance efficiency, reliability, agility, and cost control.

Occasional domestic and international travel may be required. The role may require work beyond standard hours during critical purchasing or planning cycles, and handling product or packaging samples weighing up to 40 pounds as needed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; a degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Logistics, or a related field is preferred.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in supply planning, inventory management, or operational analysis; consumer goods or manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated success executing purchase orders, managing vendor relationships, and optimizing inventory positions in a global supply setting.
• Strong organizational and supply planning skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills for collaboration across departments, cultures, and time zones.
• Cultural awareness and ability to collaborate effectively in a diverse, global workforce.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, advanced expertise in Excel, and experience with data analysis tools.
• Skill with ERP and supply chain management systems, such as SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite.
• Comfort navigating demand planning, inventory management, or supply planning software.
• Proactive, detail-oriented problem-solving, strong follow-through, and analytical rigor.
• Ability to collaborate and adapt communication style across levels, functions, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Commercial understanding of the relationship between purchasing, inventory, cash flow, and operational results, and ability to balance cost, service, and profit goals.
• Adaptability, self-motivation, and focus in a dynamic, globally connected environment.
• Professionalism, reliability, and commitment to data integrity.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Logistics, or a related field.
• Experience in consumer goods or manufacturing environments.
• Experience with business intelligence or reporting systems.
• Familiarity with collaborative tools such as Smartsheet, Teams, or Asana.
• Experience applying industry best practices and technology to improve supply planning.

Responsibilities

• Manage global production schedules, order cycles, inventory levels, and supplier lead times within open-to-buy financial guidelines.
• Maintain accurate supply plans aligned with demand forecasts, product launches, and leadership objectives.
• Monitor supply metrics, including order fill rate, lead times, and supplier performance, and take proactive action when targets are at risk.
• Collaborate with Product, Sales, Finance, and Operations to analyze future volume requirements and production constraints and time and release replenishment orders.
• Resolve conflicts between demand projections and supply capabilities in coordination with relevant teams.
• Identify supply chain risks, including delays, capacity issues, and supplier performance shortfalls, and promptly escalate them with actionable recommendations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for overseas manufacturers and build productive supplier partnerships that meet quality, delivery, and service standards.
• Maintain current knowledge of product and vendor specifications to ensure purchasing orders are accurate and requirements are met.
• Communicate across internal teams and global time zones, adapting to diverse cultural and business environments.
• Conduct regular supplier reviews, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions with internal and external partners.
• Analyze supply chain and forecast data to identify risks, bottlenecks, and process gaps and develop solutions.
• Maintain precise and timely documentation of supply planning activities, transactions, and vendor communications, supporting data integrity and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and present KPIs and insights to leadership to support financially responsible, data-driven decisions.
• Lead and implement process enhancements using industry best practices and technology.
• Travel occasionally domestically and internationally to meet suppliers or attend business meetings, as required.
• Work beyond standard hours during critical purchasing or planning cycles, as needed.
• Lift and handle product or packaging samples up to 40 pounds as needed for supply planning reviews and quality checks, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Quarterly bonus opportunities for eligible employees based on individual and company performance.
• Medical insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level