Forecasting Specialist - Walmart

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Mattel is seeking a Specialist to lead forecasting and planning for a top retailer as part of a collaborative sales forecasting and inventory management team. The role supports Mattel’s Sales team and the retailer’s inventory and planning teams with forecasting, planning, and order fulfillment. The Specialist serves as the subject matter expert for the assigned account and brands, leading item-level point-of-sale (POS) forecasting and consumption-based shipping plans. The role also supports end-to-end commercial execution, including order management, transportation, omnichannel performance, and Direct Import business execution from Asia. This is an in-office role Monday through Thursday, with work from home on Fridays. The position is part of Mattel’s Sales Planning & Analytics team, which works with internal and external partners to plan and execute future sales demand, analyze weekly POS trends and seasonality, and develop consumption-based shipping and ordering plans to support retail demand.

Requirements

Strong analytical skills, including the ability to coordinate diverse information, identify relevant data, recommend corrective actions, and implement them.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate across organizational levels and functional areas and to understand, assess, and present others’ viewpoints.
Sound business judgment, including the ability to interpret issues and recommend actions that support group, division, and corporate goals.
Process-oriented approach, including the ability to identify and address process improvements and share expertise.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with advanced Excel skills.
Direct forecasting experience planning in a highly seasonal environment with long lead times.
Extensive experience analyzing large datasets, blending data from varied sources, conducting analysis, and compiling actionable summary reports to support decision-making and strategic planning.
Knowledge of demand forecasting tools and cross-functional forecasting processes, such as JDA, SAP, Demantra, or Anaplan.
At least 5 years of relevant experience in sales analysis or merchandise buying/planning.

Nice To Haves

Experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG) or retail.
Experience with Power BI, Alteryx, BigQuery, or other database programs.
Experience with statistical forecasting techniques, systems applications, and model building.

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert for the assigned account and brands.
Lead analysis of sales trends to improve weekly item-level POS projections, and align forecasts with internal stakeholders and retail partners.
Select appropriate methods for evaluating item-level forecasts, considering consumer consumption forecasts, product history, comparable products, inventory levels, and marketing programs.
Determine weekly item- and channel-level shipping plans to support POS plans, retailer in-stock levels, and future order needs.
Create product flow patterns based on factors such as seasonality, planned promotions, distribution, and price point.
Participate in internal consensus meetings, present and explain POS demand forecasts, and provide key data findings to cross-functional S&OP teams to reach monthly consensus forecasts.
Participate with the Mattel Sales team in collaborative forecasting meetings with buyers and replenishment managers.
Present business findings and recommend seasonal action plans.
Deliver store in-stock metrics by influencing the end-to-end order process, including order creation, daily order review, maintaining perfect purchase orders, and optimizing fill rate.
Direct execution of the Direct Import business out of Asia in partnership with the Customer Service team in Hong Kong.