Forecasting Specialist

Mattel•Rogers, AR

15h

About The Position

Mattel is seeking a highly analytical and customer-focused Specialist, Sales Planning & Analysis (SPA), to support one of our most strategic retail partnerships—Walmart. In this role, you'll serve as a key link between Mattel and Walmart, leveraging data-driven insights to influence forecasting, inventory management, and business planning decisions. You'll work directly with Walmart buyers, replenishment teams, and internal cross-functional partners to ensure products are available when and where consumers want them. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys turning data into actionable business recommendations, and wants to play a visible role in managing one of the world's largest retail partnerships. You'll have the opportunity to influence business outcomes, strengthen customer relationships, and drive operational excellence across a portfolio of iconic Mattel brands.

Requirements

Strong Analytical Skills – ability to coordinate diverse information, identify relevant data, recommend and implement corrective actions
Solid Interpersonal and Communication Skills – ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels and all functional areas, ability to understand, assess and present the viewpoints of others
Sound Business Judgment – ability to interpret issues and recommend actions to best support group, division and corporate goals
Process Oriented - Ability to identify and address process improvements and share expertise with others
Proficient in MS Office, Excel Power User
Direct forecasting experience planning in a highly seasonal environment with long lead times
Extensive experience in analyzing large data sets, blending data from a variety of sources, conducting own analysis and compiling into an effective actionable summarized report to facilitate decision making & strategic planning.
Knowledge of demand forecasting tools and cross functional forecasting processes (JDA, SAP, Demantra, Anaplan etc.)
Have at least 5+ years relevant experience in sales analysis or merchandise buying/planning

Nice To Haves

Experience in CPG or retail
Experience with PowerBI, Alteryx, BigQuery or other database programs
Experience with statistical forecasting techniques, systems applications and model building

Responsibilities

Serves as subject matter expert (SME) on assigned account and brands.
Forecasting capabilities – Lead the analysis of sales trends to improve weekly item level POS projections.
Own and align these plans with internal stake holders and retail partners to ensure we have a collaborative plan at retail.
Determine appropriate model for evaluating item level forecasts and analysis, considering information such as total end consumer consumption forecasts, brand/product history, history of similar comparable brands/products, inventory levels and marketing programs.
Consumption analysis – Determine a weekly shipping plan by item, by channel, to support POS plans, retailer in-stock and future order needs.
Create product flow pattern based on criteria such as seasonality profiles, planned promotions, distribution and price point.
Attend internal consensus meetings to present and share understanding of POS demand forecasts, provide key data findings to cross-functional S&OP teams to reach a consensus forecast on a month to month basis.
Actively participate alongside Mattel sales team in key collaborative forecasting meetings with Buyers and Replenishment Managers.
Present business findings and recommend action plan for the season.
Deliver store in-stock metrics by influencing the end-to-end order process including order creation, reviewing daily orders, maintaining perfect PO’s, and optimizing fill rate.
Direct the execution of our Direct Import business out of Asia, partnering closely with the Customer Service team in our Hong Kong office.