Forecasting Specialist

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

10d

About The Position

The Opportunity: This role will be a member of a dynamic team focused on collaborative sales forecasting and inventory management. The Forecasting Specialist will be instrumental in supporting both the Sales team and the customer inventory and planning teams in areas of forecasting, order fulfillment and planning and will have customer facings engagements multiple times a year. What Your Impact Will Be: 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, current rate of sale, inventory levels and marketing programs. Manage a portfolio of 800+ SKU’s. Create product flow pattern based on criteria such as seasonality profiles, planned promotions, distribution and price point. Present business findings and recommend action plan for the season or year. 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 corporate consensus forecast on a month to month basis. Lead and participate alongside Mattel sales team in Seasonal Buying Plan forecasting meetings with Amazon. Present business findings and recommend action plan for the season or year. Assist in managing and prioritizing follow-ups from meetings. Partner with sales organization to analyze sales trends to improve item level POS and inventory projections and order recommendations. Review and incorporate sales and marketing programs to provide compelling analysis to drive business and forecast incremental consumption needs. Standard reporting and ad-hoc analysis utilizing Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, Cognos BI, Anaplan.

Requirements

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 Acumen – Create and communicate a business point of view; ability to interpret issues and recommend actions to best support group, division and corporate goals
Strong Analytical Skills – ability to coordinate diverse information, identify relevant data, recommend and implement corrective actions
Process Oriented - Ability to identify and address process improvements and share expertise with others
Able to pivot quickly and address adhoc projects while continuing to manage day-to-day responsibilities
Proficient in MS Office, Excel Power User. Anaplan is a plus.
Have at least 5+ years relevant experience in forecasting and sales analysis and/or merchandise buying/planning
Light travel; few times a year

Nice To Haves

Experience in CPG or retail
Experience with statistical forecasting techniques, systems applications and model building

Responsibilities

Determine appropriate model for evaluating item level forecasts and analysis
Manage a portfolio of 800+ SKU’s
Create product flow pattern based on criteria such as seasonality profiles, planned promotions, distribution and price point.
Present business findings and recommend action plan for the season or year.
Attend internal consensus meetings to present and share understanding of POS demand forecasts
Lead and participate alongside Mattel sales team in Seasonal Buying Plan forecasting meetings with Amazon.
Assist in managing and prioritizing follow-ups from meetings.
Partner with sales organization to analyze sales trends to improve item level POS and inventory projections and order recommendations.
Review and incorporate sales and marketing programs to provide compelling analysis to drive business and forecast incremental consumption needs.
Standard reporting and ad-hoc analysis utilizing Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, Cognos BI, Anaplan.