Demand Planner

Fresenius Kabi • Lake Zurich, IL

13d

About The Position

The Demand Planner is a supply chain professional responsible for supporting demand forecasting and planning activities across assigned products and business areas. Leveraging data analysis, forecasting tools, and cross-functional collaboration, this role develops and maintains demand forecasts that optimize inventory levels, support production planning, and enhance customer service performance. The Demand Planner participates in the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, contributes to new product introductions, monitors forecast accuracy, and supports continuous improvement initiatives related to demand planning and inventory management. This position partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Procurement, and Customer Service to ensure demand plans align with business objectives. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and eager to build expertise in demand planning while thriving in a collaborative, fast-paced supply chain environment.

Requirements

• Must possess a bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, or related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data validation, and analysis of large data sets.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills and communicate effectively with a broad range of multicultural partners.
• Minimum of 2 years of related experience
• Ability and willingness to learn planning systems, reporting tools, and business processes in a structured supply chain environment.
• Knowledge of forecasting principles and inventory management concepts.
• The successful candidate must be able to effectively speak, read, write, and understand English to perform the essential functions of the position, including independently understanding policies, procedures, training materials, and workplace communications written in English due to our heavily regulated work environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts for assigned business groups under the guidance of senior planning team members, leveraging inputs such as sales forecasts, historical shipment data, and marketing plans.
• Using data visualization tools such as ORI (Operations Results), Qlik Sense and SAC (SAP Analytics Cloud), to review demand patterns and help identify sales gaps requiring forecast adjustments thus reporting to Sr Planning team members.
• Assist in new product launch forecasting and product phase-out activities.
• With guidance from senior planning team members, facilitate demand review meetings with Marketing by recommending forecast adjustments based on data analysis, documenting insights, and following up on forecast assumptions.
• Maintain detailed meeting notes related to market intelligence and business assumptions.
• Be prepared to share insights with key S&OP stakeholders.
• Assist with the review and coordination of Supply Chain Agreements (SCA) for new product launches and annual updates.
• Monitor service KPIs such as forecast accuracy and forecast bias to achieve strategic operation goals.
• Monitor inventory KPIs such as excess inventory and short date risks to optimize inventory levels.
• Perform root cause analysis of forecast variances to enhance forecasting processes and planning tools.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company contributions
• paid vacation
• holiday and personal days
• employee assistance program
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
• life insurance
• disability
• wellness program

What This Job Offers

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