Demand Planner

Herr Foods Inc. • Nottingham, PA

10h • Onsite

About The Position

Building a great career never tasted so good! We are currently seeking a qualified individual for the Demand Planner position, that lives in a commutable distance to our Nottingham, PA team to join them on-site! This position is full-time benefit eligible. SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday 40+ hours a week. This role reports to the Director of Sales Strategy & Planning. As a member of the Demand Planning Team, the primary responsibility is to support the Demand steps of the Herr’s Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process for assigned categories to align cross-functionally on the demand plan each period. This role is responsible for establishing an accurate demand plan for a rolling 24-month horizon. The role involves interaction with cross functional leaders with competing goals and varying points of view which the planner must navigate as liaison. Agility is key to thriving in this dynamic environment with numerous change initiatives on the horizon. Key to this function is the monthly IBP Demand Planning Review process while preparing for curated hot topics, KPIs and demand plan presentation to business leadership.

Requirements

• Effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment undergoing transformation
• Self-directed, approachable problem-solver comfortable speaking up and dealing with ambiguity.
• Ability to summarize and highlight key messaging
• Understanding of statistical forecast principals
• Demonstrated communication, collaborative and analytical competencies
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills required. Intermediate required. Advanced preferred.
• B.S degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Statistics, Operations Research, or related field
• 3-5 years of previous experience in consumer product forecasting, preferably within the food industry or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) related companies

Nice To Haves

• Experience in category level Integrated Business Planning preferred
• Knowledge of demand planning software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Focuses on understanding the business to recognize the business driver inputs and initiatives.
• Translate customer and Business Development team contribution for input into the demand plan.
• Responsible for baseline forecasts in a high SKU count branded and private label portfolio.
• Assemble and analyze large volumes of data pertinent to creating the forecast (historical sales, market trends, seasonality, promotions), and provide insight and recommendations to improve process internally and externally.
• Develop and execute changes to the demand plan based on changes in demand, promotions, and market trends, including new product launches and placement.
• Collaborative planning with internal customers as part of Integrated Business Planning to layer inputs into baseline forecasts. Ensure reasonableness of forecast inputs. Challenge assumptions & escalate for decisions as needed.
• Track monthly forecast error results versus established targets and identify and report on the root cause.
• Participate in IBP Demand Reviews, clearly interpreting the demand plan and underlying assumptions to a cross functional audience.
• Support implementation of new demand planning system(s), including data validation, testing, and process.
• Support Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning process by reviewing model selection, monitoring the change introduced by statistical forecast adoption to baseline for sense check, and making appropriate adjustments to stat adopted baseline where necessary to align with business assumptions/expected trends.
• Work to maintain high accuracy rates as defined by Management, at the Sales Channel and Product Family level.
• Support other arms of the Integrated Business Planning Process as needed (PMR, Supply Review, IR, MBR).
• Bridge IBP long-term demand plan to short term execution, analyzing orders against forecast and demand signals to production.
• Short-term weekly demand planning, partnering with Supply Chain Analyst, is another critical piece of this role.
• Part of cross-functional teams with Business Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Operations to ensure cross-functional alignment and meet customer fill rate objectives.
• Play an active role in the annual budget process.
• Exercise honesty, integrity and respect with all clients and co-workers, preserve confidentially of all business information and data, maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, demonstrate a positive attitude, communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, work with accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail, respect the work environment and keep it as environmentally friendly as possible, and exercise initiative to learn new skills and tasks and to help co-workers when possible. Reliable attendance and punctuality are also required.
• Perform other related duties, special projects and functions as required from time to time.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, hearing and vision insurance.
• Marathon Health Clinic - a premier on-site healthcare provider.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k, with a company match.
• Paid vacation, holiday and sick time.
• Paid Employee referral program.
• Long term disability, life insurance, accident, hospital and critical illness indemnity plans, and legal plans.
• EAP services
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

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