Demand Planner

Gear Up Sports•Hillsboro, OR

About The Position

Demand planners play a pivotal role in ensuring that organizations can meet customer demand while minimizing costs and maximizing profits. They are responsible for forecasting product demand, conducting data analysis, optimizing inventory levels, and collaborating with various departments. Demand Planning sits within the Merchandising Department to ensure alignment of seasonal Go-To-Market workstreams and execution toward sales & merchandising strategies. They partner closely with Merchandising on assortment planning, new product launches, and product lifecycle exit strategies. Knowledge of customer & consumer insights, market insights, the competitive landscape, promotional activity, assortment planning and historical sales analysis is critical for success in this role.

Requirements

Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Software Suite (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Advanced Microsoft Excel modeling skills
Proficient working with ERP systems, experience with Microsoft Dynamics a plus.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, pro-actively plan, prioritize, adherence to deadlines and follow-through on commitments
Ability to understand priority needs and adjust when necessary or when directed
Advanced analytical skills with expertise in interpreting sales data and market trends and then present to all levels of the organization
Results-driven, proactive, and able to prioritize in a fast-paced environment
Deadline-driven with a strong sense of urgency
Strong leadership and motivational skills
Strong quantitative skills with the ability to analyze data / detail
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Strong organizational skills
Attention to detail and follow-up are critical
Ability to communicate complex issues, risks and opportunities in an easily understood and concise manner, with specific and complete information and alter communication styles to meet audience needs
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
3-5 years of experience forecasting, managing receipts and total open-to-buy required.
3-5 years of experience buying/planning; Apparel experience a plus.
Analytical ability and proficiency in retail math and inventory management.
4-Year College degree required; Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Planning Analytics, Purchasing Analytics or Business preferred.

Responsibilities

Data Analysis & Forecasting Demand:
Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and seasonal fluctuations to predict future product demand and create accurate demand forecasts.
Facilitate and manage bottoms up forecasting exercises of all categories
Communicate any risks to Merchandising, Production and Finance
Ensure prior season at-once purchases and current inventory on-hand are factored into the seasonal demand plan futures buying strategy. This may involve using statistical models and advanced forecasting techniques to make informed predictions.
Planning & Buying:
Partner with Finance to understand seasonal open-to-buy budgets by vendor.
Participate in vendor product introduction meetings and learn all new product features and benefits at all price points.
Responsible for monitoring inventory across categories to inform forecasted demand and seasonal purchasing plans while partnering with Supply Chain operations Analysts to ensure in-stock rates to maximize revenue while hitting inventory turn targets.
Place seasonal product orders 6 months in advance with company vendors.
Build product buy plans for both carry-over and seasonal SKUs.
Collaboration:
Work closely with the merchandising, sales, finance, marketing, and supply chain teams to align demand forecasts with business growth initiatives, strategies and promotional activities.
Build out key customer growth strategies with Sales Leadership and Merchandising to determine relevant product assortments & forecasted demand required to execute successfully.
Strategize and collaborate with cross-functional teams on future promotional plans, ensuring financial targets are achieved and teams are aligned on execution.
Manage to vendor deadlines for seasonal product buys.
Reporting:
Collaborate with Supply Chain Operations Analysts to prepare bi-weekly presentation materials and lead demand review meetings sharing forecast accuracy and traction against demand and inventory KPI’s, service levels, highlighting key assumptions and potential risks.
Solicit input from cross-functional teams to better understand market and customer dynamics and determine logical next steps.
Problem-Solving:
Quickly respond to market changes and unforeseen disruptions, developing contingency plans to mitigate potential risks in customer demand fulfillment and/or financial risk for the company.
Partner with Merchandising and Supply Chain Operations to manage lifecycle line plan changes
Develop market & consumer relevant seasonal brand aligned product assortments leveraging history, market knowledge, consumer trend assessment and financial risk and reward.
Other: Other tasks and projects, as assigned.

Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO) – 2 weeks (80 hours) per year banked at the beginning of the calendar year, pro-rated to the start date.
Paid Holidays – New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Healthcare Benefits – Effective the first of the month following the date of hire:
Health/Vision insurance through Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Dental insurance through LifeMap Dental
Life, Disability & Accident Insurance through MetLife – effective 1st of the month following date of hire:
Group Term Life insurance – company paid
Long Term Disability insurance – company paid
Short Term Disability insurance –company paid – provided for employees working in states without state-specific paid family/medical leave programs.
Voluntary additional life insurance
Voluntary Accident Insurance
Flexible Spending Account Plan – allowing pre-tax savings for Health and Dependent Care Expenses
Health Savings Account - allowing pre-tax savings for Health expenses
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – plan provided through Canopy
401(k) Plan – participation after three months of employment with employer-matching contribution