Demand Planner

Field Fastener • Machesney Park, IL

56d • $75,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Demand Planner is responsible for creating a reliable, data‑driven demand signal that enables the business to balance service, inventory, and working capital—especially in an OEM/VMI environment with erratic and project‑based usage. This role sits at the intersection of Sales/Account Management, Purchasing, Commodity Management, and Operations. The Demand Planner own the forecast, the assumptions behind it, and the process discipline that turns noise into an actionable plan. This role does not own customer relationships or place purchase orders. The Demand Planner interacts with cross-functional teams and will need to be confident to drive decisions and challenge input without direct leadership oversight of those individuals. The teams will include Account Management, Sales, Sourcing, Finance and Leadership.
This position reports to: V.P. of Supply Chain
This position has direct reports: No
Location: Rockford, IL
FLSA Hourly/Salary: Starting Salary range $75,000-$80,000

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Polite and professional manner.
• 3-5 years of forecasting experience
• Advanced Excel (forecasting, pivots, data modeling).
• Experience with demand planning / inventory tools
• Understanding of intermittent and lumpy demand
• Ability to synthesize imperfect and conflicting data into a clear plan
• Understanding of lead times, MOQs, and constraints
• Financial acumen related to inventory and working capital
• Comfortable with ambiguity and imperfect data
• Strong communicator who can challenge assumptions
• Process‑driven but pragmatic
• Strong in mathematics

Nice To Haves

• OEM / industrial distribution experience preferred.
• Vendor Managed Inventory.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems, preferably Prophet 21.
• Working knowledge of threaded fasteners is preferred.
• Some knowledge of “C” class items is beneficial.
• Previous fastener distribution and/or fastener manufacturing experience, beneficial.
• CPIM certification
• 2-5 years in buying / analysis/ supply chain
• Power Bi experience
• SQL experience
• Data Scientist background
• Bachelor Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Mathematics, Statistics

Responsibilities

• Commit to FIELD’s Mission Statement, Core Values, and Fieldamentals.
• Develop rolling forecasts (12–24 months) at SKU / customer / location level and own the execution and communication to the team
• Segment demand (stable, intermittent, project, lifecycle)
• Incorporate customer programs, EOLs, launches, and engineering changes
• Maintain forecast accuracy and bias metrics
• Ownership of ABC Classification and management
• Owns statistical and collaborative forecasts
• Prepare demand inputs for monthly planning cadence
• Present risks, upside, downside, and confidence ranges to VP of Supply Chain, Executive Vice President and/or President.
• Align demand plan with inventory and supply strategies
• Translate OEM signals (consumption, schedules, forecasts) into actionable demand
• Define min/max, safety stock logic, and replenishment triggers
• Identify customers/items where VMI is inappropriate
• Recommends stocking vs non‑stocking classifications
• Partner with Inventory Optimization tools and consultants
• Recommend stocking policies by SKU class
• Identify excess, obsolete, and slow‑moving inventory drivers
• Escalates gaps between demand and supply
• Act as the single source of truth for demand assumptions
• Document forecast changes and rationale
• Drive accountability to one agreed plan
• Primary Metrics include: Forecast Accuracy (MAPE / WAPE), Forecast Bias, Demand Plan Adherence, Inventory Turns above 3.5 by 2030 without eroding margin, Service Level / Fill Rate, Excess & Obsolete Inventory, Expedites caused by forecast error

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED